The correct answer is AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) and AWS Schema Conversion Tool (AWS SCT). DMS is the core service for migrating data with minimal downtime because it supports ongoing change data capture (CDC), allowing continuous replication of live changes from the source SQL Server to the target Amazon RDS for SQL Server. SCT complements DMS by assessing and automatically converting any incompatible schema objects, such as stored procedures or data types, ensuring the target database is structurally ready for the migration. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this pairing tests your understanding of how to handle both the data plane (DMS) and the schema plane (SCT) for a seamless, low-downtime migration. A common trap is to overlook SCT for homogeneous migrations, but even like-to-like SQL Server moves may require schema adjustments due to version or feature differences. Memory tip: think “DMS moves the data, SCT moves the shape”—together they keep the migration running without interruption.
DBS-C01 Deployment and Migration Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of deployment and migration. 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 migrating a 1 TB SQL Server database to Amazon RDS for SQL Server. The migration requires minimal downtime and must support ongoing changes. Which TWO AWS services should be used together to achieve this? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) and AWS Schema Conversion Tool (AWS SCT)
AWS DMS is the primary service for database migration with minimal downtime and ongoing replication. AWS SCT is used to convert the schema from SQL Server to RDS SQL Server (which may not need conversion) but more importantly to assess and convert any incompatible objects. However, for a like-to-like migration (SQL Server to SQL Server), SCT may not be required, but the question says 'migrating' and 'ongoing changes', so DMS is necessary. For minimal downtime, DMS uses Change Data Capture (CDC). To use CDC on SQL Server, you need to enable it, and SCT can help with schema conversion if needed. But the best pair is DMS and SCT because SCT can help with any schema incompatibilities and DMS handles data. Option A (DMS + SCT) is the standard recommendation for heterogeneous and homogeneous migrations. Option B (DMS + Snowball) is for large initial loads, but with 1 TB and minimal downtime, DMS alone may suffice. Option C (SCT + Snowball) doesn't include DMS for ongoing replication. Option D (DMS + Direct Connect) is about network, not a service. Option E (DMS + Lambda) is not typical. So correct is A and B? Wait: The question asks for TWO services. The typical best practice for minimal downtime is to use DMS with ongoing replication. For large databases, you might use Snowball for initial load and then DMS for CDC. So DMS and Snowball is a valid combination. Also DMS and SCT is also valid for schema conversion. Which two are correct? The question is 'Which TWO' and there are exactly two correct. I'll set correct options as A and B, but need to ensure exactly two. I'll make A: DMS and SCT, B: DMS and Snowball. Both are valid. But the stem says 'must support ongoing changes', so DMS is needed. SCT is for schema conversion, which may be needed but not always. Snowball is for initial load. Both are valid. I'll choose A and B as correct. Explanation: DMS is required for ongoing replication; SCT helps with schema conversion; Snowball helps with initial load for large databases.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
AWS Schema Conversion Tool (AWS SCT) and AWS Snowball
Why it's wrong here
Missing DMS for ongoing replication.
✗
AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) and AWS Direct Connect
Why it's wrong here
Direct Connect is a network service, not a migration service.
✗
AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) and AWS Lambda
Why it's wrong here
Lambda is not typically used for database migration.
✓
AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) and AWS Schema Conversion Tool (AWS SCT)
Why this is correct
DMS handles ongoing replication; SCT helps with schema conversion for compatibility.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✓
AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) and AWS Snowball
Why this is correct
Snowball can be used for initial bulk data transfer to reduce migration time, then DMS for ongoing changes.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DBS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Deployment and Migration — This question tests Deployment and Migration — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) and AWS Schema Conversion Tool (AWS SCT) — AWS DMS is the primary service for database migration with minimal downtime and ongoing replication. AWS SCT is used to convert the schema from SQL Server to RDS SQL Server (which may not need conversion) but more importantly to assess and convert any incompatible objects. However, for a like-to-like migration (SQL Server to SQL Server), SCT may not be required, but the question says 'migrating' and 'ongoing changes', so DMS is necessary. For minimal downtime, DMS uses Change Data Capture (CDC). To use CDC on SQL Server, you need to enable it, and SCT can help with schema conversion if needed. But the best pair is DMS and SCT because SCT can help with any schema incompatibilities and DMS handles data. Option A (DMS + SCT) is the standard recommendation for heterogeneous and homogeneous migrations. Option B (DMS + Snowball) is for large initial loads, but with 1 TB and minimal downtime, DMS alone may suffice. Option C (SCT + Snowball) doesn't include DMS for ongoing replication. Option D (DMS + Direct Connect) is about network, not a service. Option E (DMS + Lambda) is not typical. So correct is A and B? Wait: The question asks for TWO services. The typical best practice for minimal downtime is to use DMS with ongoing replication. For large databases, you might use Snowball for initial load and then DMS for CDC. So DMS and Snowball is a valid combination. Also DMS and SCT is also valid for schema conversion. Which two are correct? The question is 'Which TWO' and there are exactly two correct. I'll set correct options as A and B, but need to ensure exactly two. I'll make A: DMS and SCT, B: DMS and Snowball. Both are valid. But the stem says 'must support ongoing changes', so DMS is needed. SCT is for schema conversion, which may be needed but not always. Snowball is for initial load. Both are valid. I'll choose A and B as correct. Explanation: DMS is required for ongoing replication; SCT helps with schema conversion; Snowball helps with initial load for large databases.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DBS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
About these practice questions
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Variation 1. A company is migrating a 1 TB on-premises SQL Server database to Amazon RDS for SQL Server. The migration must be completed within 24 hours and with minimal downtime. Which TWO approaches should be used? (Choose 2)
medium
A.Use AWS DMS with SSIS packages.
B.Use native backup and restore to S3.
✓ C.Use AWS DMS with ongoing replication (CDC).
✓ D.Use AWS SCT to assess and convert the schema.
E.Use AWS DMS full load only.
Why C: Options A and D are correct because DMS with CDC provides near-zero downtime, and SCT can help with schema conversion. Option B is wrong because backup/restore requires downtime. Option C is wrong because it's not efficient. Option E is wrong because SSIS is not DMS.
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Question Discussion
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