SAP-C02 Practice Question: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization
A company is migrating a legacy on-premises application to AWS. The application runs on a physical server and uses a locally attached tape library for nightly backups. The company wants to eliminate tape management and store backups in Amazon S3. The backup software supports the iSCSI protocol. Which solution should a solutions architect recommend?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that any Storage Gateway mode can replace tape, when only tape gateway presents a virtual tape library to backup software.
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
✓
Deploy an AWS Storage Gateway tape gateway and configure the backup software to use the virtual tape library.
AWS Storage Gateway tape gateway provides a virtual tape library that integrates with existing backup software over iSCSI. Virtual tapes are stored in Amazon S3 and can be archived to Amazon S3 Glacier or Deep Archive, eliminating physical tape handling while preserving the backup application's workflow. Other gateway types or DataSync do not provide a tape interface.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use AWS DataSync to replicate the backup server's local disk to Amazon S3.
Why it's wrong here
AWS DataSync moves files between on-premises storage and AWS storage services. It does not present a tape interface to backup software, nor does it manage virtual tapes. It would not integrate with the existing tape-based backup workflow and would not eliminate the need for a local tape library.
- ✓
Deploy an AWS Storage Gateway tape gateway and configure the backup software to use the virtual tape library.
Why this is correct
Tape gateway presents a virtual tape library (VTL) over iSCSI to existing backup software. It stores virtual tapes in Amazon S3 and can archive them to Amazon S3 Glacier or Deep Archive. This eliminates physical tape management while preserving the backup workflow, matching the requirement exactly.
- ✗
Deploy an AWS Storage Gateway file gateway and mount it as an NFS share on the backup server.
Why it's wrong here
File gateway provides file-level access to S3 via NFS or SMB. Backup software that expects a tape library cannot write to an NFS share as if it were a tape device. This would require changing backup software or scripts and would not eliminate tape management in the intended way.
- ✗
Deploy an AWS Storage Gateway volume gateway in stored mode and present it as an iSCSI target to the backup server.
Why it's wrong here
Volume gateway stored mode keeps the primary data on-premises and asynchronously backs up to S3. It is designed for block storage, not for tape replacement. It would not eliminate the local tape library or provide a virtual tape shelf, and the backup software would still see a disk target rather than a tape device.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
Go deeper
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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
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