- A
Take daily automated snapshots of the RDS DB instance and copy them to the DR Region. In the DR Region, restore the DB instance from the latest snapshot.
Why wrong: Daily snapshots provide RPO of up to 24 hours, exceeding 15 minutes.
- B
Use Amazon Aurora Global Database to replicate data across Regions.
Why wrong: Aurora Global Database is for Aurora, not RDS MySQL, and is more expensive.
- C
Use AWS Backup to copy backups to the DR Region and set up EC2 Image Builder for application recovery.
Why wrong: AWS Backup for RDS provides point-in-time recovery but RTO may be longer; Image Builder is for AMIs, not database.
- D
Configure a cross-Region read replica for the RDS MySQL DB instance. In the DR event, promote the read replica to a standalone instance.
Cross-Region read replicas provide low RPO (seconds) and fast RTO (minutes).
SAP-C02 Design for New Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design for new solutions. 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 designing a disaster recovery (DR) solution for a critical application running on Amazon EC2 instances in a single AWS Region. The DR site will be in a different Region. The application data is stored in an Amazon RDS for MySQL DB instance with Multi-AZ enabled. The Recovery Point Objective (RPO) is 15 minutes, and the Recovery Time Objective (RTO) is 2 hours. Which strategy meets these requirements MOST cost-effectively?
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
Configure a cross-Region read replica for the RDS MySQL DB instance. In the DR event, promote the read replica to a standalone instance.
Option C is correct because a read replica in another Region provides an RPO of seconds and an RTO of minutes when promoted, and it is low cost. Option A is wrong because cross-Region snapshots have longer RPO (daily) and RTO (hours). Option B is wrong because Aurora Global Database is more expensive and not MySQL-compatible. Option D is wrong because EC2 Image Builder does not address database replication.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Take daily automated snapshots of the RDS DB instance and copy them to the DR Region. In the DR Region, restore the DB instance from the latest snapshot.
Why it's wrong here
Daily snapshots provide RPO of up to 24 hours, exceeding 15 minutes.
- ✗
Use Amazon Aurora Global Database to replicate data across Regions.
Why it's wrong here
Aurora Global Database is for Aurora, not RDS MySQL, and is more expensive.
- ✗
Use AWS Backup to copy backups to the DR Region and set up EC2 Image Builder for application recovery.
Why it's wrong here
AWS Backup for RDS provides point-in-time recovery but RTO may be longer; Image Builder is for AMIs, not database.
- ✓
Configure a cross-Region read replica for the RDS MySQL DB instance. In the DR event, promote the read replica to a standalone instance.
Why this is correct
Cross-Region read replicas provide low RPO (seconds) and fast RTO (minutes).
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SAP-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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Design for New Solutions — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
Design for New Solutions — This question tests Design for New Solutions — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure a cross-Region read replica for the RDS MySQL DB instance. In the DR event, promote the read replica to a standalone instance. — Option C is correct because a read replica in another Region provides an RPO of seconds and an RTO of minutes when promoted, and it is low cost. Option A is wrong because cross-Region snapshots have longer RPO (daily) and RTO (hours). Option B is wrong because Aurora Global Database is more expensive and not MySQL-compatible. Option D is wrong because EC2 Image Builder does not address database replication.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SAP-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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