- A
Use AWS Snowball Edge to physically ship the data to AWS.
Snowball Edge provides fast, secure physical transfer; economical for large datasets.
- B
Use S3 Transfer Acceleration to upload data over the existing internet connection.
Why wrong: Transfer Acceleration improves speed but still limited by 1 Gbps; transfer would take ~46 days.
- C
Use AWS DataSync to transfer data over the dedicated network.
Why wrong: DataSync is for smaller datasets or ongoing replication; 500 TB would take many days.
- D
Establish an AWS Direct Connect connection and use S3 multipart upload.
Why wrong: Direct Connect provides dedicated bandwidth but still limited to 1 Gbps; transfer time long.
Question 1,422 of 1,746
Large Data Transfer to AWS Using Snowball
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 500 TB of data from an on-premises data center to Amazon S3. The company has a 1 Gbps dedicated network connection to AWS. What is the most cost-effective and time-efficient migration method?
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 Snowball Edge to physically ship the data to AWS.
Option A is correct. AWS Snowball Edge is the most cost-effective and time-efficient method for migrating 500 TB of data over a 1 Gbps dedicated connection. At 1 Gbps, the theoretical maximum transfer time for 500 TB is over 46 days, not accounting for overhead and network issues. Snowball Edge physically ships the data, avoiding network transfer delays. Option B is wrong because S3 Transfer Acceleration still uses the network and does not reduce the transfer time sufficiently for 500 TB. Option C is wrong because AWS DataSync is optimized for smaller, ongoing transfers and would still be limited by the 1 Gbps link. Option D is wrong because Direct Connect provides a dedicated network connection but still requires transferring data over the network, which would take many days.
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.
- ✓
Use AWS Snowball Edge to physically ship the data to AWS.
Why this is correct
Snowball Edge provides fast, secure physical transfer; economical for large datasets.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use S3 Transfer Acceleration to upload data over the existing internet connection.
Why it's wrong here
Transfer Acceleration improves speed but still limited by 1 Gbps; transfer would take ~46 days.
- ✗
Use AWS DataSync to transfer data over the dedicated network.
Why it's wrong here
DataSync is for smaller datasets or ongoing replication; 500 TB would take many days.
- ✗
Establish an AWS Direct Connect connection and use S3 multipart upload.
Why it's wrong here
Direct Connect provides dedicated bandwidth but still limited to 1 Gbps; transfer time long.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which SAP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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 Snowball Edge to physically ship the data to AWS. — Option A is correct. AWS Snowball Edge is the most cost-effective and time-efficient method for migrating 500 TB of data over a 1 Gbps dedicated connection. At 1 Gbps, the theoretical maximum transfer time for 500 TB is over 46 days, not accounting for overhead and network issues. Snowball Edge physically ships the data, avoiding network transfer delays. Option B is wrong because S3 Transfer Acceleration still uses the network and does not reduce the transfer time sufficiently for 500 TB. Option C is wrong because AWS DataSync is optimized for smaller, ongoing transfers and would still be limited by the 1 Gbps link. Option D is wrong because Direct Connect provides a dedicated network connection but still requires transferring data over the network, which would take many days.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which SAP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on SAP-C02
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company is planning to migrate 50 TB of data from an on-premises data center to Amazon S3. The on-premises network bandwidth is 100 Mbps. The migration must be completed within 30 days. What is the most cost-effective solution?
easy- A.Use AWS Direct Connect to increase bandwidth.
- ✓ B.Use AWS Snowball Edge device.
- C.Use AWS DataSync over the internet.
- D.Use AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS).
Why B: At 100 Mbps, transferring 50 TB over the internet would take approximately 50 days (50*8*1024*1024 / (100*86400) ≈ 48.5 days), exceeding the 30-day window. AWS Snowball Edge is a physical device that can transfer data offline faster and is cost-effective for large data volumes. AWS DMS is for databases; Direct Connect requires setup time; S3 Transfer Acceleration improves speed but still limited by bandwidth.
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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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