The correct answer is to create a cross-region read replica in us-west-2 and configure automatic failover using Amazon Route 53 health checks. This solution works because a cross-region read replica maintains an asynchronous copy of the source database in a different AWS region, and when a disaster strikes us-east-1, you can promote that replica to a standalone primary instance with minimal data loss. Route 53 health checks then monitor the original endpoint and automatically reroute traffic to the promoted replica in us-west-2, ensuring near-continuous availability. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the critical distinction between Multi-AZ (which only protects against AZ failures within a single region) and cross-region read replicas (which provide true regional disaster recovery). A common trap is selecting Multi-AZ in us-east-1, which fails to address a full region outage. Memory tip: "Read replicas cross regions, Multi-AZ stays in one zone."
DBS-C01 Management and Operations Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of management and operations. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company runs a critical application on an Amazon RDS for MySQL DB instance. The company requires that the database be available with minimal downtime during a disaster recovery scenario. The current RDS instance is in us-east-1. The company wants to have a standby database in us-west-2 with automatic failover. What should the company do to meet this requirement?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a cross-region read replica in us-west-2. Configure automatic failover using Amazon Route 53 health checks.
An RDS cross-region read replica can be promoted to a standalone instance in a disaster. Option A (Multi-AZ in us-east-1) does not provide cross-region failover. Option B (snapshots) has downtime. Option D (Multi-AZ in us-west-2) does not help if us-east-1 fails.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Create a Multi-AZ deployment in us-west-2 and use Amazon Route 53 to failover.
Why it's wrong here
The primary database is in us-east-1, so a Multi-AZ in us-west-2 does not help.
✗
Take daily snapshots and copy them to us-west-2. Restore from snapshot in us-west-2 during a disaster.
Why it's wrong here
This approach has significant downtime for snapshot restoration.
✓
Create a cross-region read replica in us-west-2. Configure automatic failover using Amazon Route 53 health checks.
Why this is correct
The read replica can be promoted quickly, and Route 53 can redirect traffic automatically.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Create a Multi-AZ deployment in us-east-1.
Why it's wrong here
Multi-AZ provides high availability within a single region, not cross-region disaster recovery.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which DBS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Management and Operations — This question tests Management and Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a cross-region read replica in us-west-2. Configure automatic failover using Amazon Route 53 health checks. — An RDS cross-region read replica can be promoted to a standalone instance in a disaster. Option A (Multi-AZ in us-east-1) does not provide cross-region failover. Option B (snapshots) has downtime. Option D (Multi-AZ in us-west-2) does not help if us-east-1 fails.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which DBS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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This DBS-C01 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DBS-C01 exam.
Question Discussion
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