- A
Amazon EC2 instances with SQL Server installed and AWS Directory Service for AD
Why wrong: EC2 does not reduce licensing costs; it requires managing OS and SQL Server licenses.
- B
AWS Lambda for the application logic and Amazon DynamoDB for the database
Why wrong: Lambda does not support Windows Authentication or .NET in a straightforward manner; DynamoDB is not SQL Server.
- C
Amazon ECS with Windows containers, Amazon RDS for SQL Server, and AWS SSO
Why wrong: ECS with Windows containers adds complexity; AWS SSO is not a replacement for Windows Authentication.
- D
AWS Elastic Beanstalk for the .NET application, Amazon RDS for SQL Server, and AWS Managed Microsoft AD
Elastic Beanstalk supports .NET, RDS for SQL Server is managed, and Managed AD provides Windows Authentication.
Quick Answer
The correct combination is AWS Elastic Beanstalk for the .NET application, Amazon RDS for SQL Server, and AWS Managed Microsoft AD, because this trio preserves Windows Authentication without code changes while shifting to managed services. AWS Managed Microsoft AD integrates seamlessly with the .NET framework’s native authentication protocols, allowing the legacy app to continue using Kerberos or NTLM tokens. Amazon RDS for SQL Server eliminates self-managed licensing overhead, and Elastic Beanstalk handles the application runtime environment, reducing operational burden. On the SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to balance legacy compatibility with AWS’s managed service philosophy—a common trap is choosing EC2 (which still requires OS patching) or Lambda (which lacks Windows Authentication support). Remember the mnemonic “BEAM”: Beanstalk, Elastic (RDS), AD, and Managed—the four pillars that keep your migration code-free and cost-efficient.
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 a legacy .NET application to AWS. The application currently uses Windows Authentication and a SQL Server database. The company wants to reduce licensing costs and use managed services where possible. The migration should minimize code changes. Which combination of services meets these requirements?
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
AWS Elastic Beanstalk for the .NET application, Amazon RDS for SQL Server, and AWS Managed Microsoft AD
AWS Managed Microsoft AD provides Windows Authentication compatibility. Amazon RDS for SQL Server is a managed database service that reduces operational overhead and licensing costs compared to self-managed SQL Server. AWS Elastic Beanstalk supports .NET applications. This combination minimizes code changes. Lambda does not support .NET Windows Authentication natively; DynamoDB is not compatible; EC2 does not reduce licensing costs.
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.
- ✗
Amazon EC2 instances with SQL Server installed and AWS Directory Service for AD
Why it's wrong here
EC2 does not reduce licensing costs; it requires managing OS and SQL Server licenses.
- ✗
AWS Lambda for the application logic and Amazon DynamoDB for the database
Why it's wrong here
Lambda does not support Windows Authentication or .NET in a straightforward manner; DynamoDB is not SQL Server.
- ✗
Amazon ECS with Windows containers, Amazon RDS for SQL Server, and AWS SSO
Why it's wrong here
ECS with Windows containers adds complexity; AWS SSO is not a replacement for Windows Authentication.
- ✓
AWS Elastic Beanstalk for the .NET application, Amazon RDS for SQL Server, and AWS Managed Microsoft AD
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 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 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 — study guide chapter
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Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization practice questions
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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 — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: AWS Elastic Beanstalk for the .NET application, Amazon RDS for SQL Server, and AWS Managed Microsoft AD — AWS Managed Microsoft AD provides Windows Authentication compatibility. Amazon RDS for SQL Server is a managed database service that reduces operational overhead and licensing costs compared to self-managed SQL Server. AWS Elastic Beanstalk supports .NET applications. This combination minimizes code changes. Lambda does not support .NET Windows Authentication natively; DynamoDB is not compatible; EC2 does not reduce licensing costs.
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.
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?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 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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