SAP-C02 Practice Question: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization
A company is migrating an on-premises Oracle database to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL. The database is 5 TB and must be migrated with minimal downtime. The company requires continuous replication of changes during the migration and the ability to cut over within a 1-hour maintenance window. Which combination of AWS services should be used to achieve this?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that AWS SCT alone can handle both schema conversion and data replication, but SCT only converts schemas and does not replicate data.
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 Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) with ongoing replication and AWS Schema Conversion Tool (AWS SCT)
For heterogeneous migrations with minimal downtime, AWS DMS with ongoing replication and AWS SCT is the correct combination. DMS handles data migration and change data capture, while SCT converts the schema. Other options either lack ongoing replication, are not designed for data migration, or are incompatible with the target database engine.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Native Oracle Data Guard with AWS Direct Connect
Why it's wrong here
Oracle Data Guard is used for replicating between Oracle databases, not for heterogeneous replication to Aurora PostgreSQL. It cannot replicate to a non-Oracle target. AWS Direct Connect provides a dedicated network connection but does not handle database conversion or replication. This approach would not work for migrating to Aurora PostgreSQL and would require significant manual effort.
- ✗
AWS Schema Conversion Tool (AWS SCT) with continuous replication
Why it's wrong here
AWS SCT is used for schema conversion, not for data replication. It cannot perform continuous replication of data changes. While SCT is necessary for converting the schema, it does not migrate data or handle ongoing replication. Using SCT alone would leave the data migration unaddressed, and continuous replication is not a feature of SCT.
- ✗
AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) with full load only
Why it's wrong here
AWS DMS with full load only does not capture ongoing changes, so any data modified during the migration would be lost or require a second full load. This would extend downtime beyond the 1-hour window. For minimal downtime, ongoing replication is required to keep the target in sync until cutover. Full load alone is insufficient for a 5 TB database with a tight maintenance window.
- ✓
AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) with ongoing replication and AWS Schema Conversion Tool (AWS SCT)
Why this is correct
AWS DMS can perform full load plus ongoing replication (change data capture) from Oracle to Aurora PostgreSQL, minimizing downtime. AWS SCT converts the Oracle schema to PostgreSQL-compatible DDL. This combination allows continuous replication until cutover, meeting the 1-hour window. DMS handles data migration, and SCT handles schema conversion, which is essential for heterogeneous migrations.
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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.