- A
Use AWS Application Migration Service (AWS MGN) to replicate the server continuously and automate cutover.
AWS MGN provides continuous replication, automated testing, and fast cutover, meeting both RTO and RPO with low overhead.
- B
Use AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) to replicate the database continuously.
Why wrong: AWS DMS is designed for database migration, not full server migration, and does not cover application and OS data.
- C
Use AWS DataSync to replicate the server every 15 minutes to an EBS volume.
Why wrong: AWS DataSync is for file-level sync, not block-level replication of an entire server, and cannot achieve the required RPO consistently.
- D
Take hourly snapshots of the server using AWS Backup and restore in a new EC2 instance.
Why wrong: Hourly snapshots cannot achieve a 15-minute RPO, and AWS Backup does not support sub-hourly scheduling for EC2.
Quick Answer
The answer is AWS Application Migration Service (AWS MGN) because it continuously replicates the entire server, achieving near-zero RPO and an RTO under one hour with minimal operational overhead. AWS MGN captures ongoing disk changes—critical here since the 10 MB per minute change rate would quickly exceed the 15-minute RPO window of snapshot-based methods—and automates cutover, eliminating manual intervention. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between full-server replication (MGN) and database-only or backup services; a common trap is choosing AWS DMS, which only handles databases, or AWS Backup, whose continuous backups have a minimum 1-hour RPO. Remember: for a single server with strict RTO/RPO, MGN is the “lift-and-shift” champion—think “MGN Means Go Now” for near-instant recovery.
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of accelerate workload migration and modernization. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 migrating a critical application to AWS and must ensure business continuity with a Recovery Time Objective (RTO) of 1 hour and a Recovery Point Objective (RPO) of 15 minutes. The application runs on a single on-premises server with a 500 GB disk. The current data changes at a rate of 10 MB per minute. Which solution will meet the RTO and RPO requirements with the least operational overhead?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"least"Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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
Use AWS Application Migration Service (AWS MGN) to replicate the server continuously and automate cutover.
AWS Application Migration Service (AWS MGN) continuously replicates data with near-zero RPO and supports automated testing and cutover. It can achieve an RTO of less than 1 hour for a single server. AWS DMS is for database migration, not full server. AWS Backup has a minimum RPO of 1 hour for continuous backups. Manual snapshots cannot achieve 15-minute RPO due to the rate of change and manual intervention.
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.
- ✓
Use AWS Application Migration Service (AWS MGN) to replicate the server continuously and automate cutover.
Why this is correct
AWS MGN provides continuous replication, automated testing, and fast cutover, meeting both RTO and RPO with low overhead.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) to replicate the database continuously.
Why it's wrong here
AWS DMS is designed for database migration, not full server migration, and does not cover application and OS data.
- ✗
Use AWS DataSync to replicate the server every 15 minutes to an EBS volume.
Why it's wrong here
AWS DataSync is for file-level sync, not block-level replication of an entire server, and cannot achieve the required RPO consistently.
- ✗
Take hourly snapshots of the server using AWS Backup and restore in a new EC2 instance.
Why it's wrong here
Hourly snapshots cannot achieve a 15-minute RPO, and AWS Backup does not support sub-hourly scheduling for EC2.
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.
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Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — This question tests Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use AWS Application Migration Service (AWS MGN) to replicate the server continuously and automate cutover. — AWS Application Migration Service (AWS MGN) continuously replicates data with near-zero RPO and supports automated testing and cutover. It can achieve an RTO of less than 1 hour for a single server. AWS DMS is for database migration, not full server. AWS Backup has a minimum RPO of 1 hour for continuous backups. Manual snapshots cannot achieve 15-minute RPO due to the rate of change and manual intervention.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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.
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