Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
RDS backup status: - Automated backups: Enabled - Backup retention period: 14 days - Latest automated snapshot: 2026-04-27 09:00 UTC - Latest restorable time: 2026-04-27 15:14 UTC Incident timeline: - 2026-04-27 15:11 UTC: deployment script accidentally deleted critical rows - 2026-04-27 15:12 UTC: application detected missing data - Required restore point: 2026-04-27 15:10 UTC Operations note: The business wants to recover to a new database first, verify data, and then cut over the application.
Based on the exhibit, the team must restore an Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL database to the exact state just before a bad delete happened. What is the best recovery approach?
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
Restore the latest automated snapshot and accept data loss from the last backup window.
A snapshot restore goes back to the snapshot time, which is not the exact pre-incident state requested here.
B
Best answer
Perform a point-in-time restore to 2026-04-27 15:10 UTC into a new DB instance, then cut over after validation.
Point-in-time restore uses the automated backups and transaction logs to rebuild the database to an exact time before the bad change. The exhibit confirms the requested restore time is within the restorable window, and the business wants to validate the restored copy before switching traffic. Restoring to a new instance first is the safest way to recover without risking the current production database.
C
Distractor review
Promote a read replica because it will contain the deleted rows and can replace the primary immediately.
A read replica is asynchronous and reflects the source state, including the delete once it replicates. It is not an exact-time recovery method.
D
Distractor review
Enable Multi-AZ on the current database and wait for automatic failover to reverse the delete.
Multi-AZ improves availability, but it does not roll back logical data changes such as accidental deletes.
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: Perform a point-in-time restore to 2026-04-27 15:10 UTC into a new DB instance, then cut over after validation. — The incident is a logical data-loss event, not an instance failure. The required recovery time is a specific timestamp before the delete, and the exhibit shows that time is within the available restorable window. Point-in-time restore is the correct AWS mechanism because it replays backups and logs to a precise moment. Restoring to a new instance first allows verification before the application is redirected to the recovered database. Why others are wrong: Restoring a snapshot only returns the database to the snapshot time, which may still include the bad delete or lose more recent valid data. A read replica is not a recovery point for exact-time rollback because it follows source changes. Multi-AZ is for availability and failover, not undoing accidental updates or deletes.
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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