The correct answer is to deploy the thick client on Amazon WorkSpaces and provide access to employees. This approach directly addresses the core challenge of migrating a legacy client-server application with a thick client installed on desktops, as WorkSpaces allows the existing application binary to run unchanged in a virtual desktop environment while eliminating local desktop administration and enabling secure remote access. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between migration strategies—specifically, recognizing that rehosting the backend on EC2 with a VPN fails to solve the thick client management problem, and that refactoring to a web app is unnecessarily costly. A common trap is to overcomplicate the solution with application modernization when a simple lift-and-shift of the desktop environment via WorkSpaces is sufficient. Memory tip: “Thick client, thin management” — if the app is a thick client, think WorkSpaces first.
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of accelerate workload migration and modernization. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 legacy CRM application from a colocation facility to AWS. The application uses a client-server architecture with a thick client installed on employee desktops. The company wants to reduce desktop administration and provide remote access. Which migration approach should the architect recommend?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Deploy the thick client on Amazon WorkSpaces and provide access to employees
Using Amazon WorkSpaces allows the thick client to run in a virtual desktop, providing remote access and reducing desktop management. Rehosting the application on EC2 and using a VPN does not address the thick client issue. Refactoring to a web application would require significant development. Retiring the application is not desired.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Deploy the thick client on Amazon WorkSpaces and provide access to employees
Why this is correct
WorkSpaces provides a managed virtual desktop where the thick client can run, reducing desktop administration.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Refactor the application into a web application using AWS App Runner
Why it's wrong here
Refactoring would require significant development effort.
✗
Rehost the application on Amazon EC2 and provide VPN access to employees
Why it's wrong here
This still requires managing thick client installations on employee devices.
✗
Retire the application and use a SaaS alternative
Why it's wrong here
The company wants to migrate, not replace the application.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SAP-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — This question tests Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Deploy the thick client on Amazon WorkSpaces and provide access to employees — Using Amazon WorkSpaces allows the thick client to run in a virtual desktop, providing remote access and reducing desktop management. Rehosting the application on EC2 and using a VPN does not address the thick client issue. Refactoring to a web application would require significant development. Retiring the application is not desired.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SAP-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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 →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.