Quick Answer
The answer is Amazon RDS for MySQL and Amazon Aurora. Both are managed relational database services that support read replicas for reporting, allowing you to offload analytical queries from the primary database without impacting write performance. Aurora, in particular, offers up to 15 low-latency read replicas and automates provisioning, patching, and backups, directly minimizing operational overhead as required. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between fully managed services and those requiring manual replica management—a common trap is choosing Amazon RDS for Oracle or SQL Server, which do not support cross-Region read replicas as seamlessly. Remember that “managed” here means no manual replica setup or failover scripting; both RDS and Aurora handle that automatically. Memory tip: “Aurora’s 15 replicas mean reporting never sleeps.”
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of accelerate workload migration and modernization. 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 is migrating a legacy application to AWS. The application requires a relational database with read replicas for reporting. The company wants to minimize operational overhead. Which TWO database services meet 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.
Amazon DynamoDB
Why wrong: NoSQL, not relational.
Amazon Redshift
Why wrong: Data warehouse, not OLTP relational.
Amazon Aurora
Managed relational with up to 15 read replicas.
Amazon RDS for MySQL
Managed relational with read replicas.
Amazon ElastiCache
Why wrong: In-memory cache, not database.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Amazon Aurora
Amazon Aurora is a MySQL- and PostgreSQL-compatible relational database built for the cloud, combining the performance and availability of high-end commercial databases with the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of open-source databases. It supports up to 15 low-latency read replicas, which can be used for reporting workloads, and it automates time-consuming tasks such as hardware provisioning, database setup, patching, and backups, thereby minimizing operational overhead.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Amazon DynamoDB
Why it's wrong here
NoSQL, not relational.
Amazon Redshift
Why it's wrong here
Data warehouse, not OLTP relational.
Amazon Aurora
Why this is correct
Managed relational with up to 15 read replicas.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Amazon RDS for MySQL
Why this is correct
Managed relational with read replicas.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Amazon ElastiCache
Why it's wrong here
In-memory cache, not database.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may confuse Amazon RDS for MySQL (Option D) as the only correct relational database with read replicas, but Amazon Aurora is also correct because it is a fully managed relational database that natively supports read replicas with lower operational overhead than standard RDS.
Detailed technical explanation
Aurora separates storage from compute, allowing read replicas to share the same underlying distributed storage volume without copying data, which enables up to 15 replicas with minimal replica lag (typically under 100 ms). Under the hood, Aurora uses a quorum-based write model across six copies in three Availability Zones, ensuring high durability and fast failover. In a real-world scenario, a company migrating a legacy reporting application can offload read traffic to Aurora replicas without impacting write performance, while the automatic failover and self-healing storage eliminate the need for manual DBA intervention.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — This question tests Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Amazon Aurora — Amazon Aurora is a MySQL- and PostgreSQL-compatible relational database built for the cloud, combining the performance and availability of high-end commercial databases with the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of open-source databases. It supports up to 15 low-latency read replicas, which can be used for reporting workloads, and it automates time-consuming tasks such as hardware provisioning, database setup, patching, and backups, thereby minimizing operational overhead.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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