- A
Use a native database dump and restore during a maintenance window
Why wrong: Dump/restore for 2 TB will likely exceed 30 minutes.
- B
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication
DMS does a full load and then replicates changes to keep downtime minimal.
- C
Export the database to Amazon S3 and import into RDS using native tools
Why wrong: Export/import can be slow and doesn't provide ongoing replication.
- D
Create a read replica from the source database to RDS
Why wrong: Read replicas require MySQL or MariaDB binary log replication; not all databases support it.
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of accelerate workload migration and modernization. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 database to Amazon RDS. The database currently runs on a single server with a 2 TB volume. The migration must have less than 30 minutes of downtime. Which approach should be used for the initial data load?
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 Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication
Option B is correct because AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) can perform a full load of the 2 TB database and then use ongoing replication to keep the target RDS instance synchronized with the source, minimizing downtime to under 30 minutes. Option A (native dump and restore) would require extended downtime for a 2 TB database. Option C (export to S3 and import) cannot provide continuous replication, leading to more downtime. Option D (creating a read replica) is not feasible from a legacy source to RDS without additional configuration and does not directly address the migration requirement.
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 a native database dump and restore during a maintenance window
Why it's wrong here
Dump/restore for 2 TB will likely exceed 30 minutes.
- ✓
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication
Why this is correct
DMS does a full load and then replicates changes to keep downtime minimal.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Export the database to Amazon S3 and import into RDS using native tools
Why it's wrong here
Export/import can be slow and doesn't provide ongoing replication.
- ✗
Create a read replica from the source database to RDS
Why it's wrong here
Read replicas require MySQL or MariaDB binary log replication; not all databases support it.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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 Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication — Option B is correct because AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) can perform a full load of the 2 TB database and then use ongoing replication to keep the target RDS instance synchronized with the source, minimizing downtime to under 30 minutes. Option A (native dump and restore) would require extended downtime for a 2 TB database. Option C (export to S3 and import) cannot provide continuous replication, leading to more downtime. Option D (creating a read replica) is not feasible from a legacy source to RDS without additional configuration and does not directly address the migration requirement.
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
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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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