- A
Take a snapshot, restore as a new instance with the upgraded engine version, and redirect traffic.
Why wrong: Restoring from snapshot takes time and incurs downtime; also, snapshot restore is not a version upgrade path.
- B
Initiate a major version upgrade directly on the Multi-AZ instance; the upgrade will be applied during the next maintenance window with minimal downtime.
Why wrong: This incurs downtime during the upgrade; not minimal.
- C
Modify the DB instance to disable Multi-AZ, perform the upgrade, then re-enable Multi-AZ.
Why wrong: Disabling Multi-AZ causes downtime; upgrade also causes downtime.
- D
Create a read replica of the DB instance, perform the major version upgrade on the replica, then promote the replica to a new primary and update the connection string.
This approach reduces downtime because the upgrade is done on the replica while the original primary remains active.
Quick Answer
The answer is to create a read replica of the DB instance, perform the major version upgrade on the replica, then promote the replica to a new primary and update the connection string. This approach minimizes downtime because the upgrade process runs on the replica while the original primary continues serving production traffic, and the cutover is a quick promotion operation rather than a lengthy in-place upgrade. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of RDS read replica promotion as a blue/green deployment strategy for major version upgrades, with the common trap being to select the standard in-place upgrade option that incurs unavoidable downtime. Remember that RDS Multi-AZ does not eliminate the brief downtime required for a major version upgrade on the primary, so the replica promotion method is the only supported way to achieve near-zero downtime. A helpful memory tip: “Replica first, promote second, downtime avoided.”
DBS-C01 Workload-Specific Database Design Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of workload-specific database design. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 PostgreSQL database on Amazon RDS Multi-AZ. They need to perform a major version upgrade (e.g., from 12 to 13) with minimal downtime. Which approach should they take?
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 of the DB instance, perform the major version upgrade on the replica, then promote the replica to a new primary and update the connection string.
RDS supports major version upgrades, but they require a brief downtime while the upgrade is applied. The recommended approach to minimize downtime is to create a read replica, upgrade the replica, promote it to a standalone instance, and then switch over. This way, the upgrade happens on the replica while the primary continues to serve traffic. Option A describes this correctly. Option B is the standard upgrade but incurs downtime. Option C is not supported (can't upgrade Multi-AZ without downtime). Option D suggests modifying the DB instance to Single-AZ, upgrading, then converting back to Multi-AZ, which also incurs downtime.
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.
- ✗
Take a snapshot, restore as a new instance with the upgraded engine version, and redirect traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Restoring from snapshot takes time and incurs downtime; also, snapshot restore is not a version upgrade path.
- ✗
Initiate a major version upgrade directly on the Multi-AZ instance; the upgrade will be applied during the next maintenance window with minimal downtime.
Why it's wrong here
This incurs downtime during the upgrade; not minimal.
- ✗
Modify the DB instance to disable Multi-AZ, perform the upgrade, then re-enable Multi-AZ.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling Multi-AZ causes downtime; upgrade also causes downtime.
- ✓
Create a read replica of the DB instance, perform the major version upgrade on the replica, then promote the replica to a new primary and update the connection string.
Why this is correct
This approach reduces downtime because the upgrade is done on the replica while the original primary remains active.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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.
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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 of the DB instance, perform the major version upgrade on the replica, then promote the replica to a new primary and update the connection string. — RDS supports major version upgrades, but they require a brief downtime while the upgrade is applied. The recommended approach to minimize downtime is to create a read replica, upgrade the replica, promote it to a standalone instance, and then switch over. This way, the upgrade happens on the replica while the primary continues to serve traffic. Option A describes this correctly. Option B is the standard upgrade but incurs downtime. Option C is not supported (can't upgrade Multi-AZ without downtime). Option D suggests modifying the DB instance to Single-AZ, upgrading, then converting back to Multi-AZ, which also incurs downtime.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 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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