The answer is to deploy an Amazon RDS for MySQL read replica in the same Region and direct read traffic to it. This solution reduces read latency from the on-premises database by offloading read-heavy queries to a low-latency RDS instance within the AWS network, while the existing JDBC connection string remains unchanged for write traffic. The key technical concept is that a read replica handles read operations locally, bypassing the high-latency Direct Connect link for reads, and encryption in transit is automatically enforced between the EC2 instances and the RDS replica when using the AWS-managed TLS endpoint. On the SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to decouple read and write paths during a phased migration, with a common trap being to suggest Multi-AZ (which only provides high availability, not latency reduction) or increasing connection pool size (which worsens congestion). Remember the memory tip: "Reads go local, writes go remote" — a read replica is your low-latency shortcut for read-heavy workloads during a hybrid migration.
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of accelerate workload migration and modernization. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 on-premises application to AWS. The application consists of a web server, an application server, and a MySQL database. The company has already migrated the web and application servers to EC2 instances in a VPC. The database is still on-premises. The application currently connects to the database using a JDBC connection string with the on-premises IP address. The company wants to minimize changes to the application code. The network team has established an AWS Direct Connect connection between the on-premises data center and the VPC. The security team requires that traffic between the application and the database be encrypted in transit. The database is not publicly accessible. The migration plan includes moving the database to Amazon RDS for MySQL in the same VPC after the initial cutover. During the migration testing phase, the application team reports that the application can connect to the on-premises database but performance is slower than expected. CloudWatch metrics show high latency on the database connections. The application uses a connection pool with 100 connections. Which solution should the solutions architect recommend to improve performance while minimizing application code changes?
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
✓
Deploy an Amazon RDS for MySQL read replica in the same Region and direct read traffic to it
Option C is correct because deploying an RDS read replica in the same Region reduces latency for read-heavy workloads. Option A (increase connections) may exacerbate issues. Option B (enable Multi-AZ) does not reduce latency. Option D (DMS ongoing replication) does not improve read performance.
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.
✗
Increase the connection pool size to 200 and enable connection multiplexing
Why it's wrong here
More connections can increase load, not improve latency.
✓
Deploy an Amazon RDS for MySQL read replica in the same Region and direct read traffic to it
Why this is correct
Offloads reads, reducing latency for read-heavy workloads.
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.
✗
Use AWS Database Migration Service to set up ongoing replication from on-premises to RDS
Why it's wrong here
Does not improve performance; replication may add overhead.
✗
Enable Multi-AZ on the RDS instance
Why it's wrong here
Provides high availability, not performance improvement.
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: Deploy an Amazon RDS for MySQL read replica in the same Region and direct read traffic to it — Option C is correct because deploying an RDS read replica in the same Region reduces latency for read-heavy workloads. Option A (increase connections) may exacerbate issues. Option B (enable Multi-AZ) does not reduce latency. Option D (DMS ongoing replication) does not improve read performance.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.