- A
Enable automated backups with point-in-time recovery.
Why wrong: Point-in-time recovery is limited to the same region and RTO can be >15 minutes.
- B
Deploy the database in a Multi-AZ configuration.
Multi-AZ provides automatic failover to a standby in another AZ, meeting RTO <1 minute, but does not protect against region failure.
- C
Take manual snapshots and copy them to another Region.
Manual snapshots can be restored in another Region, but RPO may be >5 minutes depending on snapshot frequency.
- D
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) for continuous replication to a target in another Region.
Why wrong: DMS is for migrations, not for disaster recovery, and adds latency.
- E
Create a cross-Region read replica in a different Region.
A cross-Region read replica can be promoted to a standalone database, meeting RTO and RPO.
Quick Answer
The answer is a combination of Multi-AZ deployment, cross-Region read replica, and automated backups with point-in-time recovery. These three strategies collectively meet the disaster recovery requirements of an RPO under 5 minutes and an RTO under 15 minutes for RDS PostgreSQL because Multi-AZ provides synchronous replication with near-zero RPO and automatic failover in 1-2 minutes, while a cross-Region read replica asynchronously replicates data to another Region, enabling fast promotion and meeting the RPO target if replication lag is managed. Automated backups with point-in-time recovery restore to any second within the retention period, supporting the RPO when combined with a warm standby. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between synchronous and asynchronous replication trade-offs, with a common trap being to select only one strategy or to overlook that Multi-AZ alone does not protect against regional failure. Remember the mnemonic “MARC” for Multi-AZ, Automated backups, Read replica, and Cross-Region to recall the three required components for a cost-effective, compliant DR plan.
SAP-C02 Design for New Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design for new solutions. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 implement a cost-effective disaster recovery strategy for a production Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL database. The solution must provide a recovery point objective (RPO) of less than 5 minutes and a recovery time objective (RTO) of less than 15 minutes. Which strategies meet these requirements? (Choose THREE.)
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
Deploy the database in a Multi-AZ configuration.
Option B is correct because a Multi-AZ deployment for Amazon RDS provides automatic failover to a standby instance in a different Availability Zone, which can achieve an RTO of typically 1-2 minutes and an RPO of effectively zero (synchronous replication). This meets the sub-5-minute RPO and sub-15-minute RTO requirements without additional cost for cross-region data transfer.
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.
- ✗
Enable automated backups with point-in-time recovery.
Why it's wrong here
Point-in-time recovery is limited to the same region and RTO can be >15 minutes.
- ✓
Deploy the database in a Multi-AZ configuration.
Why this is correct
Multi-AZ provides automatic failover to a standby in another AZ, meeting RTO <1 minute, but does not protect against region failure.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Take manual snapshots and copy them to another Region.
Why this is correct
Manual snapshots can be restored in another Region, but RPO may be >5 minutes depending on snapshot frequency.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) for continuous replication to a target in another Region.
Why it's wrong here
DMS is for migrations, not for disaster recovery, and adds latency.
- ✓
Create a cross-Region read replica in a different Region.
Why this is correct
A cross-Region read replica can be promoted to a standalone database, meeting RTO and RPO.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse cross-Region read replicas (asynchronous, higher RPO/RTO) with Multi-AZ (synchronous, low RPO/RTO), or assume manual snapshots can meet sub-5-minute RPO, but snapshot frequency is typically hours or daily, not minutes.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Multi-AZ deployments use synchronous replication to a standby instance in a different Availability Zone, ensuring zero data loss on failover. The failover is automatic and typically completes within 60-120 seconds, as the DNS record is updated to point to the standby. For cross-Region scenarios, read replicas use PostgreSQL's native streaming replication, which is asynchronous and can lag behind the primary, making RPO unpredictable during high write loads.
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 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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
Design for New Solutions — This question tests Design for New Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Deploy the database in a Multi-AZ configuration. — Option B is correct because a Multi-AZ deployment for Amazon RDS provides automatic failover to a standby instance in a different Availability Zone, which can achieve an RTO of typically 1-2 minutes and an RPO of effectively zero (synchronous replication). This meets the sub-5-minute RPO and sub-15-minute RTO requirements without additional cost for cross-region data transfer.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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