Quick Answer
The answer is AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) because it is purpose-built for migrating on-premises MySQL to S3 data lakes efficiently and reliably. DMS handles the full 2 TB load over a 1 Gbps Direct Connect connection by performing a one-time full load, then optionally enabling ongoing replication for daily refreshes, all while converting the source schema to S3-compatible formats like Parquet. On the MLS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of managed data ingestion services versus alternatives like AWS DataSync or Snowball, which are optimized for file transfers or offline shipping, not live database replication. A common trap is choosing AWS Glue, but Glue is an ETL tool that requires a staging location and lacks native continuous replication from on-premises databases. Memory tip: DMS = Database Migration Service, so if the source is a database and the target is S3, always think DMS first.
This MLS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data engineering. 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 data engineer is tasked with building a data pipeline that moves data from an on-premises database to Amazon S3 for analytics. The database is a MySQL instance that is 2 TB in size. The company has a 1 Gbps dedicated network connection to AWS (AWS Direct Connect). The data must be transferred once daily. The engineer needs to choose the most efficient and reliable service for this task. Which service should they use?
AWS DataSync
Why wrong: DataSync is for file-level transfers, not database migrations.
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
DMS is designed for database migrations and supports S3 as a target.
AWS Glue
Why wrong: Glue is for ETL, not direct database migration to S3.
Amazon S3 Transfer Acceleration
Why wrong: Transfer Acceleration speeds up uploads to S3 but does not handle database extraction.
Answer choices
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 (DMS)
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) is designed for migrating databases to AWS and can continuously replicate data. For a one-time daily transfer, DMS can perform a full load and then ongoing replication if needed. It supports MySQL as a source and S3 as a target.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
AWS DataSync
Why it's wrong here
DataSync is for file-level transfers, not database migrations.
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
Why this is correct
DMS is designed for database migrations and supports S3 as a target.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AWS Glue
Why it's wrong here
Glue is for ETL, not direct database migration to S3.
Amazon S3 Transfer Acceleration
Why it's wrong here
Transfer Acceleration speeds up uploads to S3 but does not handle database extraction.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which MLS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Data Engineering — This question tests Data Engineering — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) — AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) is designed for migrating databases to AWS and can continuously replicate data. For a one-time daily transfer, DMS can perform a full load and then ongoing replication if needed. It supports MySQL as a source and S3 as a target.
Identify which MLS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This MLS-C01 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the MLS-C01 exam.
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