Question 1easymultiple choice
Full question →easymultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
Amazon RDS configuration: - Engine: MySQL - Deployment: Single-AZ - Backup retention: 7 days - Application connection string: db-prod.cluster-abcdefghijkl.us-east-1.rds.amazonaws.com Operations note: - During maintenance, the database endpoint stayed reachable only after a manual restore from snapshot.
Based on the exhibit, the database must fail over automatically if the primary Availability Zone goes down. Which solution should the architect choose?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Create a read replica in the same Availability Zone as the primary database.
A read replica helps with read scaling and some recovery scenarios, but it does not provide automatic failover like a Multi-AZ deployment.
B
Best answer
Convert the database to a Multi-AZ RDS deployment.
A Multi-AZ RDS deployment keeps a synchronous standby in another Availability Zone and automatically fails over when the primary fails. This matches the requirement for minimal manual intervention and preserves the same database endpoint, so the application does not need connection string changes. It is the standard AWS choice for resilient relational databases.
C
Distractor review
Increase the backup retention period to 35 days.
Longer backups improve recovery options, but they do not provide automatic failover during an outage. Backups are still a restore-based process.
D
Distractor review
Move the database to an EC2 instance with an attached EBS volume.
Running the database on EC2 adds operational burden and usually reduces managed failover capability compared with RDS Multi-AZ.
Common exam trap
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.
Technical deep dive
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAA-C03 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Convert the database to a Multi-AZ RDS deployment. — The exhibit shows a Single-AZ RDS MySQL database, which will not automatically survive an AZ outage. A Multi-AZ deployment is the correct AWS managed option for high availability because it maintains a synchronous standby in another Availability Zone and performs automatic failover. This approach keeps the same endpoint for the application, reducing operational complexity and downtime compared with manual restore-based recovery or self-managed database designs. Why others are wrong: A read replica is mainly for read scaling and is not the default automatic failover target for this requirement. Extending backup retention helps recovery after data loss, not Zone failure. Moving the database to EC2 adds administration work and does not improve managed failover behavior compared with RDS Multi-AZ.
What should I do if I get this SAA-C03 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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