The answer is AWS Application Migration Service (MGN). This service is the correct choice because it automates the replatforming of Windows web servers to Amazon Linux 2 by continuously replicating source servers, performing automated OS and application conversion, and enabling cutover to target EC2 instances with minimal manual intervention. It supports heterogeneous migrations—such as Windows to Linux—and provides a repeatable, automated workflow ideal for large-scale migrations tracked through AWS Migration Hub. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of automated replatforming versus rehosting; a common trap is choosing AWS Server Migration Service (SMS), which only supports homogeneous OS migrations (e.g., Windows to Windows) and cannot convert the operating system. Remember the key distinction: MGN handles the “lift, shift, and reshape” for heterogeneous targets, while SMS is limited to homogeneous rehosting. A useful memory tip is “MGN = Migrate, Convert, Go Native” for cross-OS replatforming.
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of accelerate workload migration and modernization. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 using AWS Migration Hub to track a large-scale migration to AWS. The company wants to automate the replatforming of multiple Windows web servers to Amazon EC2 instances running Amazon Linux 2. The migration must be repeatable and minimize manual intervention. Which AWS service should the company use to achieve this?
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
✓
AWS Application Migration Service (MGN)
AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) is the correct choice because it automates the replatforming of Windows web servers to Amazon Linux 2 by continuously replicating source servers, performing automated conversion of the OS and applications, and enabling cutover to target EC2 instances with minimal manual intervention. It supports heterogeneous OS migrations (e.g., Windows to Linux) and provides a repeatable, automated workflow that aligns with the company's requirement for a large-scale, repeatable migration.
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.
✓
AWS Application Migration Service (MGN)
Why this is correct
MGN automates server migration and supports replatforming to different OS.
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.
✗
AWS OpsWorks for Chef Automate
Why it's wrong here
OpsWorks manages configurations but does not perform the migration.
✗
AWS Server Migration Service (SMS)
Why it's wrong here
SMS is deprecated and does not support replatforming to Linux.
✗
AWS CloudFormation templates to provision new EC2 instances and migrate data manually
Why it's wrong here
Manual migration is not automated; CloudFormation alone does not perform replatforming.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse AWS Server Migration Service (SMS) with Application Migration Service (MGN), not realizing that SMS is deprecated and only supports homogeneous migrations, while MGN is the current service that supports heterogeneous OS replatforming like Windows to Linux.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) uses a continuous block-level replication agent installed on the source server to replicate data to a staging area in the target AWS account, then performs automated conversion of the OS, drivers, and applications during cutover. For Windows-to-Linux replatforming, MGN leverages AWS Replication Agent and automated boot-time conversion scripts that replace the Windows kernel with a Linux kernel and adjust system configurations, enabling a seamless transition without manual OS reinstallation. In real-world scenarios, this is critical for large-scale migrations where manual reconfiguration of hundreds of servers would be error-prone and time-consuming.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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: AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) — AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) is the correct choice because it automates the replatforming of Windows web servers to Amazon Linux 2 by continuously replicating source servers, performing automated conversion of the OS and applications, and enabling cutover to target EC2 instances with minimal manual intervention. It supports heterogeneous OS migrations (e.g., Windows to Linux) and provides a repeatable, automated workflow that aligns with the company's requirement for a large-scale, repeatable migration.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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.
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Question Discussion
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