The answer is AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication. This is the correct choice because DMS’s change data capture (CDC) feature continuously replicates transactions from the source Oracle database to an Amazon RDS for Oracle target, enabling a cutover with downtime measured in minutes rather than hours, while the ongoing replication stream also supports a clean rollback by simply stopping the replication and pointing applications back to the on-premises source. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of hybrid migration patterns and the distinction between online (DMS with CDC) and offline methods—a common trap is choosing Snowball for a 2 TB database, but Snowball is offline and cannot meet the minimal downtime requirement, nor does it support rollback. Remember the memory tip: “DMS with CDC means you can cut and come back.”
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 wants to migrate a legacy Oracle database to AWS with minimal downtime. The database is 2 TB in size and runs on a single on-premises server. The company requires the ability to cut over quickly and roll back if needed. Which AWS service should be used?
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 (DMS) with ongoing replication from the source to an Amazon RDS for Oracle target.
Option A is correct because AWS DMS with ongoing replication allows minimal downtime and supports rollback. Option B is wrong because the AWS Schema Conversion Tool does not handle data migration. Option C is wrong because AWS Snowball is offline. Option D is wrong because S3 Transfer Acceleration is for object storage.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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 S3 Transfer Acceleration to upload the database dump directly to an EC2 instance.
Why it's wrong here
Not a database migration service.
✓
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication from the source to an Amazon RDS for Oracle target.
Why this is correct
Enables continuous replication for minimal downtime and easy rollback.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) to convert the schema and then export the data to flat files for import.
Why it's wrong here
No data migration capability; requires additional tools.
✗
AWS Snowball Edge to copy the database files and then restore on Amazon RDS.
Why it's wrong here
Offline method, not suitable for minimal downtime.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
The first matching ACL entry is used.
There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
→Check inbound versus outbound direction.
→Read the ACL from top to bottom.
→Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SAP-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — This question tests Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication from the source to an Amazon RDS for Oracle target. — Option A is correct because AWS DMS with ongoing replication allows minimal downtime and supports rollback. Option B is wrong because the AWS Schema Conversion Tool does not handle data migration. Option C is wrong because AWS Snowball is offline. Option D is wrong because S3 Transfer Acceleration is for object storage.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SAP-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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. Refer to the exhibit. A company is using AWS Migration Hub to track database migration tasks. The migration task for 'app-server-01' has failed. The progress update stream is 'DMS'. Which AWS service is most likely responsible for the migration failure?
hard
A.AWS Application Migration Service (CloudEndure)
✓ B.AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
C.AWS Server Migration Service (SMS)
D.AWS CloudEndure Migration
Why B: The progress update stream 'DMS' indicates that the task is associated with AWS Database Migration Service (DMS). DMS is used for database migrations. AWS Application Migration Service (CloudEndure) would use a different stream. Server Migration Service (SMS) is deprecated. CloudEndure and SMS are for server migration, not database.
Variation 2. A migration engineer is setting up an AWS DMS task to migrate data from an on-premises Oracle database to Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL. The engineer attaches this IAM policy to the DMS service role. The DMS task fails with an error indicating insufficient privileges. What is the most likely cause?
hard
A.The policy does not allow the s3:ListBucket action for the S3 bucket
B.The policy does not allow the dms:TestConnection action
✓ C.The policy does not allow the dms:CreateEndpoint action
D.The policy does not allow the rds:ModifyDBInstance action
Why C: DMS needs permission to describe endpoints and test connections, which are not in the policy. The policy allows creating and starting tasks but not the prerequisite actions like creating endpoints. S3 access is correct if using S3 as a source/target, but the core issue is missing endpoint permissions.
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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.
Question Discussion
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