- A
Disable autovacuum on the Aurora cluster to improve migration performance
Why wrong: Autovacuum is important for performance; disabling it can cause issues.
- B
Use AWS DMS with ongoing replication from the source PostgreSQL database
DMS with CDC enables near-zero downtime migration.
- C
Use AWS Snowball Edge to transfer the data offline
Why wrong: Snowball is for large offline transfers, not for live migration with minimal downtime.
- D
Create an Aurora PostgreSQL read replica to offload read traffic during migration
Read replicas can handle read traffic, reducing load on the source.
- E
Increase the instance class of the Aurora cluster to handle the migration load
Larger instance class provides more resources for migration.
Question 1,316 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 3 TB PostgreSQL database to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL. The migration must have minimal downtime. Which THREE steps should be taken?
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
✓
Use AWS DMS with ongoing replication from the source PostgreSQL database
AWS DMS with ongoing replication (change data capture, CDC) allows continuous synchronization from the source PostgreSQL database to the target Aurora PostgreSQL cluster, enabling a cutover with minimal downtime. This is the standard approach for live migrations where the source remains fully operational during the transfer.
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.
- ✗
Disable autovacuum on the Aurora cluster to improve migration performance
Why it's wrong here
Autovacuum is important for performance; disabling it can cause issues.
- ✓
Use AWS DMS with ongoing replication from the source PostgreSQL database
Why this is correct
DMS with CDC enables near-zero downtime migration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS Snowball Edge to transfer the data offline
Why it's wrong here
Snowball is for large offline transfers, not for live migration with minimal downtime.
- ✓
Create an Aurora PostgreSQL read replica to offload read traffic during migration
Why this is correct
Read replicas can handle read traffic, reducing load on the source.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Increase the instance class of the Aurora cluster to handle the migration load
Why this is correct
Larger instance class provides more resources for migration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume offline methods like Snowball Edge are faster for large datasets, but the question explicitly requires minimal downtime, making continuous replication the only viable choice.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS DMS uses logical replication by connecting to the source PostgreSQL's write-ahead log (WAL) via the pglogical or native logical replication slots to capture changes in real time. During the full load phase, DMS parallelizes table loading using multiple tasks, and the ongoing replication phase applies transactions with sub-second latency, allowing a near-zero downtime cutover. The target Aurora cluster must have autovacuum enabled to maintain MVCC health and prevent performance degradation during the migration.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Deployment and Migration — study guide chapter
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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: Use AWS DMS with ongoing replication from the source PostgreSQL database — AWS DMS with ongoing replication (change data capture, CDC) allows continuous synchronization from the source PostgreSQL database to the target Aurora PostgreSQL cluster, enabling a cutover with minimal downtime. This is the standard approach for live migrations where the source remains fully operational during the transfer.
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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