- A
Upload the backup file to an Amazon S3 bucket.
Native restore in RDS SQL Server requires the backup file to be in S3.
- B
Store the backup file on an EBS volume attached to the RDS instance.
Why wrong: EBS volumes are not directly attached to RDS instances; RDS manages storage.
- C
Use FTP to transfer the backup file directly to the RDS instance.
Why wrong: RDS does not allow direct FTP access to the instance.
- D
Use the AWS Management Console to upload the backup file to the RDS instance.
Why wrong: RDS does not support direct upload of backup files via console.
Question 1,133 of 1,730
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. They want to use the native backup and restore feature. What must they do first?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
✓
Upload the backup file to an Amazon S3 bucket.
To use the native backup and restore feature for migrating a SQL Server database to Amazon RDS, you must first upload the backup file to an Amazon S3 bucket. RDS for SQL Server supports restoring from backup files stored in S3 via the `RESTORE DATABASE` command, using the `FROM URL` option that references the S3 bucket. This is the only supported method for native restore, as RDS does not allow direct file system access or FTP transfers.
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.
- ✓
Upload the backup file to an Amazon S3 bucket.
Why this is correct
Native restore in RDS SQL Server requires the backup file to be in S3.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Store the backup file on an EBS volume attached to the RDS instance.
Why it's wrong here
EBS volumes are not directly attached to RDS instances; RDS manages storage.
- ✗
Use FTP to transfer the backup file directly to the RDS instance.
Why it's wrong here
RDS does not allow direct FTP access to the instance.
- ✗
Use the AWS Management Console to upload the backup file to the RDS instance.
Why it's wrong here
RDS does not support direct upload of backup files via console.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume they can directly upload files to an RDS instance via the console or FTP, similar to an on-premises SQL Server, but RDS abstracts the underlying infrastructure and only supports S3 as the staging location for native backups.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, RDS for SQL Server uses the `rds_restore_database` stored procedure, which requires the backup file to be in an S3 bucket that the RDS instance can access via an IAM role. The backup file must be a full database backup (.bak) and can be up to 1 TB in size. In a real-world scenario, if the backup file is larger than 1 TB, you would need to use compressed or striped backups, or consider using AWS DMS instead of native restore.
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.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Deployment and Migration — This question tests Deployment and Migration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Upload the backup file to an Amazon S3 bucket. — To use the native backup and restore feature for migrating a SQL Server database to Amazon RDS, you must first upload the backup file to an Amazon S3 bucket. RDS for SQL Server supports restoring from backup files stored in S3 via the `RESTORE DATABASE` command, using the `FROM URL` option that references the S3 bucket. This is the only supported method for native restore, as RDS does not allow direct file system access or FTP transfers.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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