SAP-C02 Practice Question: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization
A company is migrating a multi-tier web application to AWS. The application consists of a web server, application server, and Oracle database. Which TWO AWS services should be used to modernize the application while reducing operational overhead?
⚠ Common exam trap
SAP-C02 often tests the misconception that EC2 or Lightsail reduce operational overhead, when in fact managed services like RDS and Elastic Beanstalk are required to offload patching, scaling, and backups.
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
✓
Amazon RDS for Oracle
Amazon RDS for Oracle (A) is correct because it is a managed relational database service that supports Oracle engines, automating tasks such as provisioning, patching, backups, and Multi-AZ replication, which reduces the operational overhead of running the Oracle database tier. AWS Elastic Beanstalk (C) is correct because it provides a managed platform for deploying and scaling web and application server tiers, handling capacity provisioning, load balancing, and application health monitoring so the company can modernize without managing underlying infrastructure. Amazon Lightsail (B) is not appropriate because it is a simplified VPS offering aimed at small, simple workloads and does not provide the managed multi-tier or Oracle capabilities needed here. Amazon EC2 (D) is not the best choice because it requires the company to manage the operating system, patching, scaling, and database operations itself, increasing operational overhead. Amazon DynamoDB (E) is incorrect because it is a NoSQL key-value/document database and cannot replace the existing Oracle relational database workload.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Amazon RDS for Oracle
Why this is correct
Amazon RDS for Oracle is a managed service handling provisioning, patching, backups and Multi-AZ failover, removing database administration overhead. It preserves Oracle compatibility, satisfying the modernisation goal while reducing the operational burden the stem requires.
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Amazon Lightsail
Why it's wrong here
Amazon Lightsail provides simplified virtual private servers with bundled pricing, aimed at small, single-tier workloads. It cannot modernise a multi-tier application with an Oracle database, since it lacks managed Oracle, load balancing, and auto scaling. Lightsail suits simple websites, not this architecture.
- ✓
AWS Elastic Beanstalk
Why this is correct
Elastic Beanstalk provisions and manages the underlying EC2, load balancing, scaling and application deployment for the web and application tiers, cutting operational overhead. It satisfies the modernisation requirement while letting the team retain control of the application runtime.
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Amazon EC2
Why it's wrong here
Amazon EC2 provides raw virtual servers, so the company still patches, scales and manages the OS, database and tiers itself, adding operational overhead. It is tempting as a direct lift-and-shift target, but modernising with reduced overhead points to managed services such as Amazon RDS and AWS Elastic Beanstalk.
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Amazon DynamoDB
Why it's wrong here
DynamoDB is a NoSQL key-value store, so the existing Oracle schema, SQL queries and relational joins would need rewriting, which the migration does not call for. It is tempting as a fully managed, serverless database, and would be correct for a new application designed around single-table NoSQL access patterns.
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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.