The correct choice is to rehost the application on Amazon EC2 and install the same proprietary database on an EC2 instance. This strategy, often called lift-and-shift, allows you to migrate a proprietary database not supported by RDS directly to an EC2 instance, where you can bring your own license (BYOL) to minimize licensing costs rather than purchasing new licenses for a different database engine. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the migration strategies outlined in the 7 Rs, specifically when a database is unsupported by managed services like RDS or DMS. A common trap is assuming you must convert to a supported database or use a migration service, but the key constraint is that proprietary databases often lack DMS support and converting would incur additional licensing fees. Remember the memory tip: “If RDS won’t host it, EC2 is the most cost-effective post.”
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of accelerate workload migration and modernization. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 CRM application to AWS. The application uses a proprietary database that is not supported by Amazon RDS. The company wants to minimize licensing costs. The current on-premises deployment uses a single server. Which migration strategy should the company use?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Rehost the application on Amazon EC2 and install the same proprietary database on an EC2 instance.
Option D is correct because moving the database to an EC2 instance with the same database software allows the company to bring its own license and minimize licensing costs. Option A is wrong because converting to a supported database may incur additional licensing. Option B is wrong because DMS does not support proprietary databases. Option C is wrong because repurchasing may not fit the need.
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
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Rehost the application on Amazon EC2 and install the same proprietary database on an EC2 instance.
Why this is correct
Rehosting with the same database minimizes licensing costs.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Rehost the application, but replace the database with a SaaS alternative.
Why it's wrong here
Repurchasing may not minimize licensing costs.
✗
Refactor the application to use a different database engine that is supported by Amazon RDS.
Why it's wrong here
Refactoring is costly and may not minimize licensing.
✗
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) to migrate the database to Amazon RDS.
Why it's wrong here
DMS does not support proprietary databases.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
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
How to think about this question
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.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
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
How this comes up in practice
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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.
Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — This question tests Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Rehost the application on Amazon EC2 and install the same proprietary database on an EC2 instance. — Option D is correct because moving the database to an EC2 instance with the same database software allows the company to bring its own license and minimize licensing costs. Option A is wrong because converting to a supported database may incur additional licensing. Option B is wrong because DMS does not support proprietary databases. Option C is wrong because repurchasing may not fit the need.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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