AWS Server Migration Service for VM Migration with Minimal Changes

A company is migrating a virtual machine from on-premises to AWS. The VM runs Windows Server 2012 R2. The company wants to minimize changes to the VM. Which AWS service should the company use to migrate the VM?

Quick Answer

The answer is AWS Server Migration Service (SMS). This service is specifically designed for migrating entire virtual machines from on-premises environments to AWS while requiring minimal changes to the VM, making it ideal for a Windows Server 2012 R2 workload where you want to preserve the operating system, applications, and configuration without refactoring. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between migration services based on scope: SMS handles full VM-level replication with agentless incremental sync, whereas AWS Application Migration Service (formerly CloudEndure) is optimized for application-level rehosting and often requires agent installation. A common trap is confusing SMS with AWS Database Migration Service, which only handles databases, not entire VMs. Memory tip: think “SMS = Server Migration Service = Server-level lift-and-shift with minimal changes.”

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

✓

AWS Server Migration Service

AWS Server Migration Service (SMS) is an agentless service that specializes in migrating virtual machines from on-premises environments to AWS with minimal changes to the VM configuration. Option B is incorrect because AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) is designed for database migrations, not entire VMs. Option C is incorrect because AWS CloudEndure Migration is a legacy service that has been superseded by AWS Application Migration Service. Option D is incorrect because although AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) can also migrate VMs, it typically requires installing an agent on the source VM, which introduces changes; SMS minimizes changes by using agentless replication.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✓
AWS Server Migration Service
Why this is correct
AWS Server Migration Service (SMS) is an agentless service that migrates VMs from on-premises to AWS with minimal changes, making it the correct choice.
✗
AWS Database Migration Service
Why it's wrong here
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) is designed for database migrations, not for migrating entire virtual machines.
✗
AWS CloudEndure Migration
Why it's wrong here
AWS CloudEndure Migration is a legacy migration service that has been incorporated into AWS Application Migration Service; it is not the recommended service for this scenario.
✗
AWS Application Migration Service
Why it's wrong here
AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) is a newer server migration service, but it typically requires installing an agent on the source VM, which introduces changes. The question specifies minimizing changes, so SMS is the better option here.

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Same concept, more angles

1 more way this is tested on SAP-C02

These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.

Variation 1. A company wants to migrate its on-premises virtualized workloads to AWS using the VMware Cloud on AWS service. The company currently uses VMware vSphere for virtualization. What is the primary benefit of using VMware Cloud on AWS for this migration?

easy

✓ A.It allows the company to continue using existing VMware management tools and processes
B.It provides better application performance compared to running on AWS native compute
C.It reduces the total cost of ownership by eliminating the need for any hardware maintenance
D.It eliminates the need to refactor applications for the cloud

Why A: VMware Cloud on AWS allows organizations to use the same VMware tools and processes, minimizing the learning curve and operational changes. It does not automatically reduce costs, nor does it provide better performance or eliminate the need to refactor applications.

Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026

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