SAP-C02 Practice Question: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization
A company is migrating a legacy application to AWS. The application currently runs on a single on-premises server with a local MySQL database. The company wants to minimize changes and reduce operational overhead. Which TWO strategies should the solutions architect recommend? (Select TWO.)
⚠ Common exam trap
SAP-C02 often tests the trade-off between minimizing changes and reducing operational overhead, where candidates might over-optimize by choosing refactoring or repurchasing, ignoring the explicit requirement to minimize changes.
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
✓
Replatform the database to Amazon RDS for MySQL
Option C is correct because replatforming the local MySQL database to Amazon RDS for MySQL preserves the MySQL engine and schema while offloading patching, backups, and high availability to AWS, which reduces operational overhead with minimal application changes. Option D is correct because rehosting (lift-and-shift) the application onto Amazon EC2 moves the existing server workload to the cloud with little or no code modification, directly satisfying the goal of minimizing changes. Option A is not appropriate because refactoring into microservices requires significant redesign and development effort, contradicting the minimize-changes requirement. Option B is wrong because retiring the application eliminates the workload rather than migrating it. Option E is wrong because repurchasing a SaaS alternative replaces the application entirely, which is a larger change than the company wants.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Refactor the application to use microservices
Why it's wrong here
Refactoring into microservices rewrites the application's architecture and data access, which is the largest possible change and adds operational overhead rather than reducing it. It is tempting because microservices improve scalability and deployment independence, and would be correct when the business needs those gains and accepts the redevelopment cost.
- ✗
Retire the application
Why it's wrong here
Retiring decommissions the application, removing the capability the company still needs, so it cannot satisfy a migration that preserves the workload. It is tempting because decommissioning eliminates all operational overhead, and would be correct only where the application is genuinely no longer required by the business.
- ✓
Replatform the database to Amazon RDS for MySQL
Why this is correct
Amazon RDS for MySQL runs the same MySQL engine, so the application's queries and drivers work unchanged, satisfying the minimal-changes constraint. RDS also removes database patching, backup and server management tasks, directly reducing operational overhead.
- ✓
Rehost the application on Amazon EC2
Why this is correct
Rehosting on Amazon EC2 lifts the application and its MySQL database onto virtual servers with minimal code change, satisfying the minimise-changes and reduce-operational-overhead constraints. The architect retains full control of the OS and database engine, so no refactoring or replatforming effort is required during migration.
- ✗
Repurchase a SaaS alternative
Why it's wrong here
Repurchasing replaces the application with a SaaS product, which discards the existing code and database schema, contradicting the minimise-changes requirement. It is tempting because SaaS removes server and database patching entirely, and would be correct when the business can abandon custom functionality and adopt a standard vendor offering.
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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.