The correct combination is AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) to Amazon EC2 and AWS DMS to Amazon RDS for SQL Server. This works because MGN performs a lift-and-shift migration of the entire on-premises server to EC2 with near-zero application code changes, while AWS DMS handles the database migration to Amazon RDS for SQL Server, a fully managed service that eliminates patching, backups, and hardware provisioning overhead. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between rehosting (MGN) and replatforming (DMS) when the requirement is to migrate SQL Server to AWS managed services with minimal changes. A common trap is choosing native backup-restore or EC2-hosted SQL Server, which either requires more downtime or fails to reduce operational overhead. Remember the pairing: MGN moves the compute with minimal friction, DMS moves the database to managed RDS. Memory tip: “MGN moves the machine, DMS delivers the database to managed.”
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 monolithic application to AWS with minimal changes. The application currently runs on a single on-premises server with a Microsoft SQL Server database. The company wants to use AWS managed services to reduce operational overhead. Which combination of services should the company use to meet these requirements?
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) to Amazon EC2, and AWS DMS to Amazon RDS for SQL Server
Option B is correct because AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) enables lift-and-shift migration of the on-premises server to Amazon EC2 with minimal changes, while AWS DMS can migrate the Microsoft SQL Server database to Amazon RDS for SQL Server, a fully managed service that reduces operational overhead. This combination meets the requirement of minimal application changes and leverages AWS managed services for the database.
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.
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AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) to Amazon EC2, and AWS DMS to Amazon DynamoDB
Why it's wrong here
DynamoDB is NoSQL; the application expects SQL Server, requiring significant changes.
✓
AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) to Amazon EC2, and AWS DMS to Amazon RDS for SQL Server
Why this is correct
MGN minimizes changes for server migration, DMS migrates the database to managed RDS.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
AWS Server Migration Service (SMS) to Amazon EC2, and AWS DMS to Amazon RDS for SQL Server
Why it's wrong here
AWS SMS is deprecated; AWS MGN is the recommended migration service.
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AWS CloudFormation to provision EC2 instances, and AWS DMS to Amazon RDS for SQL Server
Why it's wrong here
CloudFormation is for automation, not migration; the question requires minimal changes, not re-provisioning.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates might choose Option A thinking DynamoDB is a managed database service, but they overlook the requirement for minimal changes, which is broken by switching from a relational to a NoSQL database, or they might pick Option C not realizing SMS is deprecated and lacks the continuous replication capabilities of MGN.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) uses continuous block-level replication to create a staging area in the target AWS account, enabling automated cutover with minimal downtime. AWS DMS for SQL Server to Amazon RDS for SQL Server supports ongoing replication via change data capture (CDC) using SQL Server transaction logs, allowing near-zero downtime migrations. The combination preserves the existing SQL Server schema and stored procedures, ensuring application compatibility without code changes.
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.
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) to Amazon EC2, and AWS DMS to Amazon RDS for SQL Server — Option B is correct because AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) enables lift-and-shift migration of the on-premises server to Amazon EC2 with minimal changes, while AWS DMS can migrate the Microsoft SQL Server database to Amazon RDS for SQL Server, a fully managed service that reduces operational overhead. This combination meets the requirement of minimal application changes and leverages AWS managed services for the database.
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.
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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