The correct solution is to install the AWS DataSync agent on-premises and configure a task to transfer HDFS data to S3 with compression enabled. DataSync handles this efficiently by using parallel, multi-threaded streams and enabling compression at the agent level, which reduces the volume of data traversing the 1 Gbps link and minimizes total transfer time without requiring any downtime for the on-premises Hadoop cluster. On the AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty MLS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to optimize large-scale data ingestion for ML training, often contrasting network-based tools like DataSync against physical appliances (Snowball) or acceleration features (S3 Transfer Acceleration). A common trap is assuming Snowball Edge is always faster, but for compressible data over a 1 Gbps link, DataSync with compression can complete the transfer in days rather than the weeks needed for shipping. Remember the mnemonic: “DataSync compresses and streams, Snowball ships and dreams.”
MLS-C01 Data Engineering Practice Question
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 needs to move 10 TB of historical data from an on-premises Hadoop cluster to Amazon S3 for ML training. The data is currently stored in HDFS and is compressible. The network bandwidth between the on-premises data center and AWS is 1 Gbps. The team needs to minimize the time to transfer and also wants to avoid any downtime for the on-premises system. Which solution meets these requirements?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Install the AWS DataSync agent on-premises, configure a task to transfer data to S3 with compression enabled.
Option D is correct because AWS DataSync can transfer data over the network efficiently using parallel streams and compression, and it can be installed as an agent on the on-premises cluster. Option A is wrong because Snowball Edge would require shipping, which takes longer and may not be faster than network transfer with optimization. Option B is wrong because Direct Connect provides a dedicated network connection but does not include the data transfer software; DataSync works over Direct Connect. Option C is wrong because S3 Transfer Acceleration improves speed over public internet but may not be as fast as DataSync with compression.
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.
✗
Set up an AWS Direct Connect connection and use rsync to copy data to S3.
Why it's wrong here
Direct Connect improves network stability but rsync lacks optimization for large transfers.
✗
Enable S3 Transfer Acceleration on the bucket and use the AWS CLI to copy data.
Why it's wrong here
Transfer Acceleration helps with latency but not as efficient as DataSync for large datasets.
✓
Install the AWS DataSync agent on-premises, configure a task to transfer data to S3 with compression enabled.
Why this is correct
DataSync is optimized for large data transfers with compression and parallelization.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use AWS Snowball Edge devices to export the data and ship them to AWS.
Why it's wrong here
Snowball Edge involves shipping time and is not necessary for 10 TB over 1 Gbps.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
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
How to think about this question
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.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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.
Data Engineering — This question tests Data Engineering — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Install the AWS DataSync agent on-premises, configure a task to transfer data to S3 with compression enabled. — Option D is correct because AWS DataSync can transfer data over the network efficiently using parallel streams and compression, and it can be installed as an agent on the on-premises cluster. Option A is wrong because Snowball Edge would require shipping, which takes longer and may not be faster than network transfer with optimization. Option B is wrong because Direct Connect provides a dedicated network connection but does not include the data transfer software; DataSync works over Direct Connect. Option C is wrong because S3 Transfer Acceleration improves speed over public internet but may not be as fast as DataSync with compression.
What should I do if I get this MLS-C01 question wrong?
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A data engineering team needs to move 10 TB of historical data from an on-premises Hadoop cluster to Amazon S3. The data is currently stored in HDFS. Which service should they use for an efficient transfer?
medium
✓ A.AWS DataSync
B.S3 Transfer Acceleration
C.Amazon Kinesis Data Streams
D.AWS Snowball Edge
Why A: AWS DataSync can transfer data from on-premises HDFS to S3 efficiently, with built-in encryption and validation. Option A is wrong because S3 Transfer Acceleration speeds up transfers but requires network. Option C is wrong because Snowball Edge is for offline transfer. Option D is wrong because Kinesis is for streaming, not bulk historical.
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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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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