The correct answer is to use AWS DMS with ongoing replication from the on-premises database to Amazon RDS until cutover. This strategy achieves minimal downtime because AWS DMS captures ongoing changes from the source SQL Server’s transaction logs and continuously applies them to the target RDS instance, keeping both databases in sync during the migration. When you are ready, a brief cutover window—often measured in seconds—is all that is required to redirect traffic. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the difference between full-load migration and change data capture (CDC); a common trap is choosing native backup and restore, which forces significant downtime, or selecting SCT, which handles schema conversion only. Remember the key distinction: for minimal downtime with heavy writes, you need ongoing replication, not a one-time copy. A useful memory tip is “DMS syncs, then you flip the switch.”
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 needs to migrate a 10 TB SQL Server database from on-premises to Amazon RDS for SQL Server with minimal downtime. The database is heavily used with frequent write operations. Which migration strategy should be used?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use AWS DMS with ongoing replication from the on-premises database to RDS until cutover.
Option C is correct because AWS DMS with ongoing replication allows minimal downtime by keeping the target in sync until cutover. Option A is wrong because native backup/restore would require downtime and is not designed for minimal downtime. Option B is wrong because SCT is for schema conversion, not data migration. Option D is wrong because exporting to CSV and using COPY is not suitable for large databases with minimal downtime.
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.
✗
Use native SQL Server backup and restore to Amazon S3, then restore to RDS.
Why it's wrong here
Backup/restore requires downtime and does not support ongoing replication.
✗
Export the database to CSV files, upload to S3, and use the COPY command in RDS.
Why it's wrong here
Export/import approach requires significant downtime and is not efficient for large databases.
✗
Use AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) to convert the schema, then use AWS DMS for full load.
Why it's wrong here
SCT is for schema conversion; DMS full load alone does not provide minimal downtime without ongoing replication.
✓
Use AWS DMS with ongoing replication from the on-premises database to RDS until cutover.
Why this is correct
DMS ongoing replication enables minimal downtime by keeping the target current.
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: Use AWS DMS with ongoing replication from the on-premises database to RDS until cutover. — Option C is correct because AWS DMS with ongoing replication allows minimal downtime by keeping the target in sync until cutover. Option A is wrong because native backup/restore would require downtime and is not designed for minimal downtime. Option B is wrong because SCT is for schema conversion, not data migration. Option D is wrong because exporting to CSV and using COPY is not suitable for large databases with minimal downtime.
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.
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Question Discussion
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