Quick Answer
The answer is AWS Snowball Edge and AWS DataSync. Snowball Edge is correct because it physically transfers petabytes of data when a 1 Gbps internet connection is too slow to meet a two-week deadline, bypassing network bottlenecks entirely. DataSync accelerates the remaining online transfer by automating and optimizing data movement over the network, using parallel multi-threading and incremental syncs. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to choose hybrid migration strategies that combine offline and online tools for large file migration to Amazon S3, especially under tight deadlines. A common trap is selecting AWS Direct Connect, but that requires weeks to provision and doesn’t fit a two-week window. Remember the mnemonic “SnowSync” — Snowball for bulk offline, DataSync for fast online — to quickly recall the pair for accelerating data transfer.
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 migrating a large number of files from on-premises to Amazon S3. The files are in a network-attached storage (NAS) system with a 1 Gbps connection to the internet. The company has a 2-week deadline to complete the migration. Which TWO services should the company use to accelerate the migration? (Choose TWO.)
AWS DataSync
DataSync can accelerate online transfers over the network.
AWS Transfer Family
Why wrong: Transfer Family is for SFTP/FTPS, not acceleration.
AWS Snowball Edge
Snowball Edge physically transfers data, bypassing network limitations.
AWS Database Migration Service
Why wrong: DMS is for databases, not files.
AWS Direct Connect
Why wrong: Direct Connect may take weeks to provision.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
AWS DataSync
Option A (AWS Snowball Edge) is correct for large data transfers over slow networks. Option D (AWS DataSync) is correct for accelerating online transfers. Option B is wrong because AWS Direct Connect requires time to provision. Option C is wrong because AWS Database Migration Service is for databases. Option E is wrong because AWS Transfer Family is for file transfer protocols, not acceleration.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
AWS DataSync
Why this is correct
DataSync can accelerate online transfers over the network.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AWS Transfer Family
Why it's wrong here
Transfer Family is for SFTP/FTPS, not acceleration.
AWS Snowball Edge
Why this is correct
Snowball Edge physically transfers data, bypassing network limitations.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AWS Database Migration Service
Why it's wrong here
DMS is for databases, not files.
AWS Direct Connect
Why it's wrong here
Direct Connect may take weeks to provision.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which SAP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — This question tests Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: AWS DataSync — Option A (AWS Snowball Edge) is correct for large data transfers over slow networks. Option D (AWS DataSync) is correct for accelerating online transfers. Option B is wrong because AWS Direct Connect requires time to provision. Option C is wrong because AWS Database Migration Service is for databases. Option E is wrong because AWS Transfer Family is for file transfer protocols, not acceleration.
Identify which SAP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
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 is migrating a large number of files from on-premises to Amazon S3. The files are accessed frequently and require low latency. Which TWO AWS services can help accelerate the migration? (Choose TWO.)
mediumWhy C: AWS DataSync can transfer data over the network with optimization. AWS Snowball Edge is for large-scale offline data transfer. Option B is wrong because S3 Transfer Acceleration speeds up uploads but is not a migration service. Option D is wrong because AWS Storage Gateway is for hybrid storage. Option E is wrong because AWS CloudFormation is for infrastructure provisioning.
Variation 2. An organization wants to migrate 50 TB of data from an on-premises NAS to Amazon S3 over a slow internet connection. The migration must be completed within two weeks. Which approach is most appropriate?
easyWhy B: Option C (AWS Snowball Edge) is correct because it can handle large data volumes over slow networks. Option A (AWS DataSync) may be too slow. Option B (S3 Transfer Acceleration) still uses internet. Option D (AWS Direct Connect) may take time to set up.
Variation 3. A company is migrating an on-premises data center to AWS. The company has a large amount of data (50 TB) that needs to be transferred quickly. The internet connection is limited to 100 Mbps. Which TWO methods should the solutions architect consider for the initial data transfer? (Select TWO.)
easyWhy B: AWS Snowball Edge is a physical device for offline data transfer, suitable for large data over slow networks. AWS DataSync can transfer data over the internet but is limited by bandwidth; however, it can be used for incremental transfers after initial load. Direct Connect may take time to provision. VPN is slow. S3 Transfer Acceleration speeds up transfers over the internet but still limited by bandwidth.
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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.
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