- A
Create an Aurora read replica from the on-premises database using a VPN connection.
Why wrong: Aurora read replicas cannot be created from an external on-premises database; they are for Aurora clusters.
- B
Use AWS DMS with ongoing replication from the on-premises database to Aurora, then perform a cutover during the maintenance window.
Ongoing replication keeps data in sync with minimal downtime during cutover, leveraging the maintenance window.
- C
Use AWS Schema Conversion Tool (AWS SCT) to convert the schema and then use AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) with full load only.
Why wrong: AWS SCT handles schema conversion, but full load only does not minimize downtime; ongoing replication is needed.
- D
Perform a full pg_dump of the on-premises database and restore it to Aurora using pg_restore.
Why wrong: This requires significant downtime during dump and restore; not optimal for minimizing downtime.
Quick Answer
The correct strategy is to use AWS DMS with ongoing replication from the on-premises PostgreSQL database to Aurora PostgreSQL, then perform a cutover during the maintenance window. This approach minimizes downtime by leveraging AWS DMS’s change data capture (CDC) capability, which continuously synchronizes incremental changes from the source to the target, ensuring that only a brief final cutover is needed rather than a lengthy full dump and restore. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of migration strategies that balance data consistency with minimal disruption, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly choose a full backup-and-restore or a one-time DMS task, ignoring the need for ongoing replication. The key insight is that for a 2 TB database with a tight 24-hour window, CDC eliminates the risk of falling behind during the initial load. Memory tip: think “CDC = Continuous Data Catch-up” to remember that ongoing replication is the secret to near-zero downtime.
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 migrating its on-premises PostgreSQL database to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL. The database is 2 TB in size and has a 24-hour maintenance window on weekends. The company needs to minimize downtime and ensure data consistency. Which strategy should the solutions architect recommend?
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 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
Use AWS DMS with ongoing replication from the on-premises database to Aurora, then perform a cutover during the maintenance window.
AWS DMS with ongoing replication (change data capture, CDC) allows the on-premises PostgreSQL database to be continuously synchronized with the target Aurora PostgreSQL cluster, minimizing downtime. When the cutover is performed during the 24-hour maintenance window, data consistency is ensured because all changes up to that point have been replicated. This approach avoids the need for a lengthy full database dump and restore, which would cause extended downtime.
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.
- ✗
Create an Aurora read replica from the on-premises database using a VPN connection.
Why it's wrong here
Aurora read replicas cannot be created from an external on-premises database; they are for Aurora clusters.
- ✓
Use AWS DMS with ongoing replication from the on-premises database to Aurora, then perform a cutover during the maintenance window.
Why this is correct
Ongoing replication keeps data in sync with minimal downtime during cutover, leveraging the maintenance window.
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.
- ✗
Use AWS Schema Conversion Tool (AWS SCT) to convert the schema and then use AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) with full load only.
Why it's wrong here
AWS SCT handles schema conversion, but full load only does not minimize downtime; ongoing replication is needed.
- ✗
Perform a full pg_dump of the on-premises database and restore it to Aurora using pg_restore.
Why it's wrong here
This requires significant downtime during dump and restore; not optimal for minimizing downtime.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume a full dump and restore (pg_dump/pg_restore) is the simplest approach, but they overlook the massive downtime it requires for a 2 TB database, whereas DMS with CDC is designed specifically to minimize downtime for large-scale migrations.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS DMS uses logical replication slots in PostgreSQL to capture changes via the write-ahead log (WAL) for ongoing replication, ensuring near-real-time synchronization. During cutover, you stop writes to the source, apply any remaining CDC changes, and then redirect traffic to Aurora, achieving sub-minute downtime. This method is ideal for large databases (e.g., 2 TB) where a full dump/restore would take hours or days.
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
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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.
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Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
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: Use AWS DMS with ongoing replication from the on-premises database to Aurora, then perform a cutover during the maintenance window. — AWS DMS with ongoing replication (change data capture, CDC) allows the on-premises PostgreSQL database to be continuously synchronized with the target Aurora PostgreSQL cluster, minimizing downtime. When the cutover is performed during the 24-hour maintenance window, data consistency is ensured because all changes up to that point have been replicated. This approach avoids the need for a lengthy full database dump and restore, which would cause extended downtime.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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