The correct answer is to rehost the application on EC2 Windows instances and use Amazon RDS for SQL Server. This strategy is most appropriate because it preserves the existing Windows authentication infrastructure and the .NET framework dependencies without requiring code changes, while simply shifting the SQL Server workload to a managed AWS service. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between the 7 Rs of migration, specifically recognizing that rehosting (lift-and-shift) is the only path that truly minimizes changes when legacy authentication and database compatibility are non-negotiable. A common trap is to assume re-platforming to Linux or refactoring to serverless will save costs, but those options break Windows authentication or require extensive code rewrites. Remember the memory tip: “Windows auth + .NET = EC2 Windows + RDS SQL Server” — if the question says “minimal changes,” never touch the authentication layer or the database engine.
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of accelerate workload migration and modernization. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. 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 .NET application to AWS. The application uses Windows authentication and connects to an on-premises SQL Server database. The company wants to minimize code changes. Which migration strategy is most appropriate?
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 EC2 Windows instances and use Amazon RDS for SQL Server.
Option C is correct because rehosting on EC2 Windows with RDS SQL Server minimizes changes and supports Windows authentication. Option A is wrong because re-platforming to Linux may break .NET dependencies. Option B is wrong because refactoring to serverless requires significant code changes. Option D is wrong because moving to Aurora PostgreSQL requires code changes.
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.
✗
Replatform the application to use Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL with AWS DMS.
Why it's wrong here
Requires database conversion and potential code changes.
✗
Refactor the application into microservices using AWS Lambda and Amazon DynamoDB.
Why it's wrong here
Requires significant code changes and database migration.
✓
Rehost the application on EC2 Windows instances and use Amazon RDS for SQL Server.
Why this is correct
Rehosting minimizes code changes and supports Windows authentication.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Re-platform the application to run on Amazon Linux and use Amazon RDS for MySQL.
Why it's wrong here
Linux does not support .NET Windows authentication easily; MySQL is different database.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
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.
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: Rehost the application on EC2 Windows instances and use Amazon RDS for SQL Server. — Option C is correct because rehosting on EC2 Windows with RDS SQL Server minimizes changes and supports Windows authentication. Option A is wrong because re-platforming to Linux may break .NET dependencies. Option B is wrong because refactoring to serverless requires significant code changes. Option D is wrong because moving to Aurora PostgreSQL requires code changes.
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: "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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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