Quick Answer
The correct answers are Amazon RDS Multi-AZ and Amazon Aurora. Both services provide a high availability relational database on AWS with automated backups, meeting the core requirement for a legacy application migration. RDS Multi-AZ achieves high availability through a synchronous standby replica in a different Availability Zone, while Aurora uses a distributed, fault-tolerant storage system that replicates data across three Availability Zones, offering even greater durability and faster failover. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between fully managed relational services and other database types, with a common trap being to confuse DynamoDB (NoSQL) or ElastiCache (in-memory cache) as relational options. A key memory tip: if the requirement explicitly says “relational database,” immediately eliminate DynamoDB, ElastiCache, and Redshift—focus only on RDS and Aurora for high availability and automated backups.
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of continuous improvement for existing 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 migrating a legacy application to AWS. The application requires a relational database with high availability and automated backups. Which TWO AWS services should the company consider? (Choose two.)
Amazon Redshift
Why wrong: Redshift is a data warehouse, not a transactional database.
Amazon RDS with Multi-AZ deployment
Provides high availability and automated backups.
Amazon ElastiCache
Why wrong: ElastiCache is for caching, not a primary database.
Amazon DynamoDB
Why wrong: DynamoDB is NoSQL, not relational.
Amazon Aurora
Aurora is relational with high availability and backups.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Amazon RDS with Multi-AZ deployment
Options A and C are correct. Option A: Amazon RDS Multi-AZ provides high availability and automated backups. Option C: Amazon Aurora is a MySQL/PostgreSQL-compatible relational database with high availability and automated backups. Option B is wrong because DynamoDB is NoSQL. Option D is wrong because ElastiCache is an in-memory cache. Option E is wrong because Redshift is a data warehouse.
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
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Amazon Redshift
Why it's wrong here
Redshift is a data warehouse, not a transactional database.
Amazon RDS with Multi-AZ deployment
Why this is correct
Provides high availability and automated backups.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Amazon ElastiCache
Why it's wrong here
ElastiCache is for caching, not a primary database.
Amazon DynamoDB
Why it's wrong here
DynamoDB is NoSQL, not relational.
Amazon Aurora
Why this is correct
Aurora is relational with high availability and backups.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
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
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.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
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.
Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — study guide chapter
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Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions practice questions
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Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
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FAQ
Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — This question tests Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
The correct answer is: Amazon RDS with Multi-AZ deployment — Options A and C are correct. Option A: Amazon RDS Multi-AZ provides high availability and automated backups. Option C: Amazon Aurora is a MySQL/PostgreSQL-compatible relational database with high availability and automated backups. Option B is wrong because DynamoDB is NoSQL. Option D is wrong because ElastiCache is an in-memory cache. Option E is wrong because Redshift is a data warehouse.
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.
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
About these practice questions
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Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company is migrating a legacy application to AWS. The application requires a relational database with high I/O and low latency. The database size is 2 TB and growing. The Solutions Architect must choose a storage solution that provides the best price-performance. Which TWO solutions meet these requirements?
hardWhy A: Options A and C are correct: RDS with Provisioned IOPS provides consistent low latency, and Aurora with I/O-Optimized provides high I/O at lower cost for high I/O workloads. Option B is wrong because gp3 is general purpose, not best for high I/O. Option D is wrong because DynamoDB is NoSQL. Option E is wrong because Redshift is for analytics.
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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