- A
Create a read replica in the other Region.
Cross-Region read replicas provide low RPO and can be promoted to a standalone instance.
- B
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication to a target in the other Region.
Why wrong: DMS is for migration, not for disaster recovery; it adds complexity.
- C
Take a manual snapshot and copy it to the other Region. Restore from the snapshot.
Why wrong: Manual snapshots are not automated and may have significant data loss.
- D
Enable automatic backups and copy automated snapshots to the other Region.
Automated backups can be copied to another Region, providing RPO of up to 5 minutes.
- E
Use AWS Backup to schedule cross-Region backups.
Why wrong: AWS Backup can copy backups but not as efficiently as automated cross-Region snapshot copy.
Quick Answer
The answer is to enable automatic backups and copy automated snapshots to the other Region, or to create a cross-Region read replica. Both options meet the requirement for RDS PostgreSQL cross-region disaster recovery with minimal data loss because they keep data nearly synchronized across Regions. The cross-Region read replica uses PostgreSQL’s native streaming replication, achieving a Recovery Point Objective (RPO) of seconds to minutes, while copying automated snapshots provides a slightly higher RPO but still minimizes loss compared to manual backups. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of replication lag versus snapshot frequency—a common trap is choosing only one option when the scenario explicitly asks for two. Remember that read replicas offer near-real-time sync, while snapshot copies are automated and region-independent. A useful memory tip: “Replica for seconds, snapshot for safety.”
DBS-C01 Workload-Specific Database Design Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of workload-specific database design. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 is designing a disaster recovery strategy for an Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL database. The database is 2 TB in size. The company wants to recover to a different AWS Region with minimal data loss. Which TWO options meet these requirements?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Create a read replica in the other Region.
Option A is correct because Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL supports creating a cross-Region read replica, which uses PostgreSQL's native streaming replication to keep the replica nearly synchronized with the source database. This provides a Recovery Point Objective (RPO) of seconds to minutes, minimizing data loss in a disaster scenario. The replica can be promoted to a standalone primary in the other Region for failover.
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 read replica in the other Region.
Why this is correct
Cross-Region read replicas provide low RPO and can be promoted to a standalone instance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication to a target in the other Region.
Why it's wrong here
DMS is for migration, not for disaster recovery; it adds complexity.
- ✗
Take a manual snapshot and copy it to the other Region. Restore from the snapshot.
Why it's wrong here
Manual snapshots are not automated and may have significant data loss.
- ✓
Enable automatic backups and copy automated snapshots to the other Region.
Why this is correct
Automated backups can be copied to another Region, providing RPO of up to 5 minutes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS Backup to schedule cross-Region backups.
Why it's wrong here
AWS Backup can copy backups but not as efficiently as automated cross-Region snapshot copy.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think cross-Region automatic backup copies (Option D) provide minimal data loss, but they actually have an RPO of up to 24 hours, whereas cross-Region read replicas (Option A) provide near-real-time replication.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cross-Region read replicas for RDS PostgreSQL use PostgreSQL's built-in streaming replication over TLS, with the replica asynchronously applying WAL logs from the source. The replica lag is typically under a second in stable networks, but can increase under heavy write loads or network latency. Automatic backups (Option D) are copied to another Region as automated snapshots, which are taken once per day during the backup window, resulting in an RPO of up to 24 hours, which is not minimal data loss.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Workload-Specific Database Design — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Workload-Specific Database Design — This question tests Workload-Specific Database Design — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a read replica in the other Region. — Option A is correct because Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL supports creating a cross-Region read replica, which uses PostgreSQL's native streaming replication to keep the replica nearly synchronized with the source database. This provides a Recovery Point Objective (RPO) of seconds to minutes, minimizing data loss in a disaster scenario. The replica can be promoted to a standalone primary in the other Region for failover.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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.
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