The correct strategies are configuring a cross-Region read replica and enabling cross-Region automated backups for RDS MySQL disaster recovery. A cross-Region read replica provides both read scaling and a fully functional standby database in a secondary Region, which can be promoted to a primary instance during a failover event, ensuring near-zero data loss and rapid recovery. Cross-Region automated backups, meanwhile, allow you to restore the database to a specific point in time in a different Region, offering a separate, asynchronous recovery mechanism that does not rely on the replica’s replication lag. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between high availability (Multi-AZ, which is Region-bound) and true disaster recovery across Regions. A common trap is selecting Multi-AZ, which protects against AZ failures but not regional outages. Remember the mnemonic: “Replica for real-time failover, backups for point-in-time recovery across Regions.”
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 new application on AWS that requires high availability and disaster recovery across multiple AWS Regions. The application uses an Amazon RDS for MySQL database. Which TWO strategies should they implement to meet these requirements?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable automated backups and copy them to another Region.
Option A (Cross-Region Read Replica) provides DR and read scaling. Option C (Cross-Region automated backups) allows restore in another region. Option B (Multi-AZ) is for HA within a region, not DR. Option D (snapshot copy) is manual. Option E (S3 replication) doesn't apply to RDS.
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.
✗
Create a manual snapshot and copy it to another Region.
Why it's wrong here
Manual process, not automated DR.
✓
Enable automated backups and copy them to another Region.
Why this is correct
Cross-Region backup copy enables restore in another region.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use S3 cross-Region replication for the database.
Why it's wrong here
S3 replication is for S3 objects, not RDS.
✓
Configure a cross-Region read replica.
Why this is correct
Provides DR and read scaling across regions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable Multi-AZ deployment.
Why it's wrong here
Multi-AZ provides HA within a region, not DR.
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 SAP-C02 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.
Design for New Solutions — This question tests Design for New Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable automated backups and copy them to another Region. — Option A (Cross-Region Read Replica) provides DR and read scaling. Option C (Cross-Region automated backups) allows restore in another region. Option B (Multi-AZ) is for HA within a region, not DR. Option D (snapshot copy) is manual. Option E (S3 replication) doesn't apply to RDS.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which SAP-C02 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.
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 →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
This SAP-C02 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 SAP-C02 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.