- A
Increase the DB instance class size.
Why wrong: Increasing the DB instance class size improves performance but does not provide automatic failover or faster recovery during a failure, so it does not reduce RTO.
- B
Enable Multi-AZ deployment.
Multi-AZ deployment provides automatic failover to a standby in a different AZ, minimizing downtime and reducing RTO typically to under 2 minutes.
- C
Create a read replica in a different Availability Zone.
A read replica in a different AZ can be promoted quickly, reducing RTO compared to backup restoration, though it requires manual intervention.
- D
Configure automated backups with point-in-time recovery.
Why wrong: Automated backups with point-in-time recovery improve RPO but do not reduce RTO because restoring from a backup takes longer and is not an automatic process.
- E
Take manual snapshots every hour.
Why wrong: Taking manual snapshots every hour also relies on restoration, which is time-consuming and does not reduce RTO compared to failover or promotion.
Two Actions to Lower RTO for RDS PostgreSQL
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of management and operations. 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.
Which TWO actions can help reduce the recovery time objective (RTO) for an Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance in the event of a failure? (Choose 2.)
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
Enable Multi-AZ deployment.
Option B is correct because enabling Multi-AZ deployment for Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL provides automatic failover to a standby replica in a different Availability Zone. This reduces RTO by automating the DNS change and database promotion, typically completing within 60–120 seconds without manual intervention. Option C is correct because creating a read replica in a different Availability Zone allows you to manually promote it to a standalone instance during a failure, which can be faster than restoring from a backup, thereby reducing RTO. Although promotion is manual and takes a few minutes, it still offers a lower RTO compared to backup-based recovery. Option D, configuring automated backups with point-in-time recovery, primarily improves recovery point objective (RPO) rather than RTO, as restoring from a backup is typically slower and involves more steps. Options A and E do not directly reduce RTO since increasing instance class size does not aid failover, and manual snapshots also rely on restoration.
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.
- ✗
Increase the DB instance class size.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing the DB instance class size improves performance but does not provide automatic failover or faster recovery during a failure, so it does not reduce RTO.
- ✓
Enable Multi-AZ deployment.
Why this is correct
Multi-AZ deployment provides automatic failover to a standby in a different AZ, minimizing downtime and reducing RTO typically to under 2 minutes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Create a read replica in a different Availability Zone.
Why this is correct
A read replica in a different AZ can be promoted quickly, reducing RTO compared to backup restoration, though it requires manual intervention.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure automated backups with point-in-time recovery.
Why it's wrong here
Automated backups with point-in-time recovery improve RPO but do not reduce RTO because restoring from a backup takes longer and is not an automatic process.
- ✗
Take manual snapshots every hour.
Why it's wrong here
Taking manual snapshots every hour also relies on restoration, which is time-consuming and does not reduce RTO compared to failover or promotion.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse read replicas with Multi-AZ failover, assuming a read replica can be promoted quickly to reduce RTO, but in reality, promotion is a manual process that takes several minutes and does not provide automatic failover like Multi-AZ.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Multi-AZ deployment uses synchronous replication to a standby instance in a different AZ, ensuring zero data loss during failover (RPO of zero) and automatic failover with a typical RTO of 60–120 seconds. Automated backups with point-in-time recovery rely on transaction logs stored in Amazon S3, enabling restoration to any second within the backup retention window, which is faster than restoring from a full snapshot because it applies logs incrementally. In contrast, manual snapshots are full database copies that must be restored entirely, and hourly snapshots still require manual promotion, making them unsuitable for low RTO requirements.
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
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
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: Enable Multi-AZ deployment. — Option B is correct because enabling Multi-AZ deployment for Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL provides automatic failover to a standby replica in a different Availability Zone. This reduces RTO by automating the DNS change and database promotion, typically completing within 60–120 seconds without manual intervention. Option C is correct because creating a read replica in a different Availability Zone allows you to manually promote it to a standalone instance during a failure, which can be faster than restoring from a backup, thereby reducing RTO. Although promotion is manual and takes a few minutes, it still offers a lower RTO compared to backup-based recovery. Option D, configuring automated backups with point-in-time recovery, primarily improves recovery point objective (RPO) rather than RTO, as restoring from a backup is typically slower and involves more steps. Options A and E do not directly reduce RTO since increasing instance class size does not aid failover, and manual snapshots also rely on restoration.
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: Jul 4, 2026
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