SAP-C02 Practice Question: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization
A company is migrating 200 on-premises virtual machines running a mix of Windows and Linux workloads to AWS. The migration must complete within a tight cutover window, and the company wants to minimize manual configuration and scripting. A solutions architect needs to choose a migration approach that supports automated conversion of the source servers into Amazon EC2 instances with minimal changes. Which AWS service should the solutions architect use?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that AWS Server Migration Service is still the recommended tool for lift-and-shift server migrations, when AWS Application Migration Service is now the primary service for that use case.
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
✓
AWS Application Migration Service (AWS MGN)
AWS Application Migration Service is purpose-built for rehosting physical, virtual, or cloud servers to AWS. It continuously replicates source servers at the block level, then automatically launches them as EC2 instances for test or cutover. This removes the need to rebuild operating systems or applications manually, supports both Windows and Linux, and enables short cutover windows because the replication is ongoing. The other services address data transfer or database migration, not whole-server conversion.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
AWS DataSync
Why it's wrong here
AWS DataSync is a data transfer service that moves files between on-premises storage and AWS storage services such as Amazon S3, Amazon EFS, and Amazon FSx. It does not replicate entire server operating systems or convert physical or virtual machines into EC2 instances. While it can be part of a migration for file data, it cannot satisfy the requirement to migrate 200 VMs with minimal manual configuration and a tight cutover window.
- ✓
AWS Application Migration Service (AWS MGN)
Why this is correct
AWS Application Migration Service (AWS MGN) is the primary lift-and-shift service for block-level replication and automated conversion of source servers to EC2 instances. It supports both Windows and Linux, uses a lightweight replication agent, and requires minimal manual effort because it automatically provisions staging and cutover instances. The tight cutover window is addressed by continuous replication and automated launch of test or cutover instances, which matches the requirements exactly.
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AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS)
Why it's wrong here
AWS Database Migration Service is designed to migrate data between databases, not full server workloads. It supports homogeneous and heterogeneous database migrations and continuous data replication, but it cannot convert entire operating system images or application servers into EC2 instances. Using DMS for 200 virtual machines would leave the operating systems, applications, and configurations unmigrated, requiring separate manual rebuilds, which conflicts with the goal of minimizing manual configuration.
- ✗
AWS Server Migration Service (AWS SMS)
Why it's wrong here
AWS Server Migration Service is an older, agentless service that was primarily used for VMware vSphere environments and has been superseded by AWS Application Migration Service. It does not provide the same level of automation for block-level replication across mixed hypervisors, and AWS has deprecated it for new migrations. Recommending SMS would introduce unnecessary limitations and does not align with current best practices for large-scale server migrations.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Amazon Web Services exam blueprint
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.