- A
Use a VPC endpoint to share the database across accounts without data transfer costs.
Why wrong: VPC endpoints do not enable cross-account database sharing without replication, and they do not eliminate data transfer costs for RDS.
- B
Create a cross-region read replica in the central account and grant access to other accounts.
This uses a cross-region read replica that can be accessed by other accounts, providing a continuously synced copy for disaster recovery. Although cross-region data transfer costs apply, it is the only option that uses a proper read replica.
- C
Share a snapshot of the RDS instance with each account and restore it as a read replica in the same region.
Why wrong: Restoring a snapshot creates an independent database instance that does not stay in sync with the source; it is not a read replica and cannot be used for ongoing replication for high availability or disaster recovery.
- D
Create an IAM role in each account to access the central RDS instance directly.
Why wrong: Creating IAM roles does not provide a local copy of the database in each account; direct access across accounts may involve high latency and does not meet disaster recovery requirements.
SAP-C02 Read Replica Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design solutions for organizational complexity. 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. A key principle to apply: read Replica. 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 designing a multi-account AWS environment for different business units. They need to share a central Amazon RDS database with read replicas in each account for disaster recovery. What architecture minimizes cross-region data transfer costs while maintaining high availability?
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
Create a cross-region read replica in the central account and grant access to other accounts.
Option B is correct because creating a cross-region read replica in the central account and granting access to other accounts allows each account to have a local read replica that stays in sync with the source, providing high availability and disaster recovery while minimizing cross-region data transfer costs (since replicas are in the same region as the source? Actually, the replica is cross-region, so costs are incurred, but among the given options, this is the only one that uses actual read replicas for continuous replication. Option C is wrong because restoring a snapshot creates an independent instance that does not automatically sync with the source, so it does not meet the requirement for continuous replication and disaster recovery.
Key principle: Read Replica
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 a VPC endpoint to share the database across accounts without data transfer costs.
Why it's wrong here
VPC endpoints do not enable cross-account database sharing without replication, and they do not eliminate data transfer costs for RDS.
- ✓
Create a cross-region read replica in the central account and grant access to other accounts.
Why this is correct
This uses a cross-region read replica that can be accessed by other accounts, providing a continuously synced copy for disaster recovery. Although cross-region data transfer costs apply, it is the only option that uses a proper read replica.
Related concept
Read Replica
- ✗
Share a snapshot of the RDS instance with each account and restore it as a read replica in the same region.
Why it's wrong here
Restoring a snapshot creates an independent database instance that does not stay in sync with the source; it is not a read replica and cannot be used for ongoing replication for high availability or disaster recovery.
- ✗
Create an IAM role in each account to access the central RDS instance directly.
Why it's wrong here
Creating IAM roles does not provide a local copy of the database in each account; direct access across accounts may involve high latency and does not meet disaster recovery requirements.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often mistakenly think that sharing a snapshot and restoring it creates a read replica, but snapshots are point-in-time and do not replicate ongoing changes. A true read replica requires continuous replication.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
RDS read replicas use asynchronous replication based on the MySQL, MariaDB, or PostgreSQL native replication engines (e.g., MySQL's binlog-based replication or PostgreSQL's streaming replication). When a snapshot is shared and restored in the same region, the restored instance is a fully independent database that can be promoted to a standalone instance for disaster recovery, avoiding the ongoing cross-region replication costs that would occur with a cross-region read replica. In real-world scenarios, this approach is often used for compliance or data residency requirements where each account must maintain its own copy of the data without relying on continuous cross-region replication.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read Replica
- Cross-account Read Replica
- Disaster Recovery (DR)
- Snapshot
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
Read Replica
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review read Replica, then practise related SAP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — This question tests Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — Read Replica.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a cross-region read replica in the central account and grant access to other accounts. — Option B is correct because creating a cross-region read replica in the central account and granting access to other accounts allows each account to have a local read replica that stays in sync with the source, providing high availability and disaster recovery while minimizing cross-region data transfer costs (since replicas are in the same region as the source? Actually, the replica is cross-region, so costs are incurred, but among the given options, this is the only one that uses actual read replicas for continuous replication. Option C is wrong because restoring a snapshot creates an independent instance that does not automatically sync with the source, so it does not meet the requirement for continuous replication and disaster recovery.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review read Replica, then practise related SAP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read Replica
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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