The correct choice is to use AWS DMS with a full-load migration and ongoing replication from the on-premises SQL Server to RDS for SQL Server. This strategy works because AWS DMS leverages native change data capture (CDC) capabilities in SQL Server Always On Availability Groups, allowing continuous replication of transactions after the initial full load, which keeps the target RDS instance synchronized with minimal downtime and full transactional consistency. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to combine a bulk data transfer with ongoing replication to meet strict RTO/RPO requirements, often appearing as a distractor against native backup/restore or export wizards that require application downtime. A common trap is assuming that schema conversion tools like SCT handle data migration, but SCT only converts schema and does not move data. Remember the memory tip: “DMS does the heavy lifting with CDC, so your app stays up and running.”
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 critical application from on-premises to AWS. The application uses a Microsoft SQL Server database with Always On Availability Groups for high availability. The company wants to use Amazon RDS for SQL Server to reduce management overhead. The database size is 500 GB. The migration must have minimal downtime and support transactional consistency. The company has a VPN connection to AWS. Which migration strategy should the company use?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "always"
Why it matters: Absolute qualifier. An answer using 'always' is only correct if there are genuinely no exceptions — absolute statements are often wrong in networking.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use AWS DMS with a full-load migration and ongoing replication from the on-premises SQL Server to RDS for SQL Server.
Option C is correct because AWS DMS supports ongoing replication from SQL Server to RDS for SQL Server using native CDC capabilities, enabling minimal downtime. Option A is wrong because native backup/restore requires downtime and does not support ongoing replication. Option B is wrong because exporting data with SQL Server Import/Export Wizard requires downtime and does not support ongoing sync. Option D is wrong because SCT is for schema conversion, not data migration; also, SCT does not handle data migration.
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.
✓
Use AWS DMS with a full-load migration and ongoing replication from the on-premises SQL Server to RDS for SQL Server.
Why this is correct
DMS supports full load and CDC for minimal downtime.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "always" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Take a full backup of the database, restore it to RDS, and then schedule a final backup and restore after cutting over.
Why it's wrong here
This approach has significant downtime and does not support ongoing replication.
✗
Use the SQL Server Import/Export Wizard to copy data from on-premises to RDS over the VPN.
Why it's wrong here
This is a one-time copy with downtime; not suitable for minimal downtime migrations.
✗
Use AWS SCT to convert the database schema and then use AWS DMS for data migration.
Why it's wrong here
SCT is not needed for homogeneous migration; DMS alone can handle SQL Server to SQL Server.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
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 — 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: Use AWS DMS with a full-load migration and ongoing replication from the on-premises SQL Server to RDS for SQL Server. — Option C is correct because AWS DMS supports ongoing replication from SQL Server to RDS for SQL Server using native CDC capabilities, enabling minimal downtime. Option A is wrong because native backup/restore requires downtime and does not support ongoing replication. Option B is wrong because exporting data with SQL Server Import/Export Wizard requires downtime and does not support ongoing sync. Option D is wrong because SCT is for schema conversion, not data migration; also, SCT does not handle data migration.
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: "always". Absolute qualifier. An answer using 'always' is only correct if there are genuinely no exceptions — absolute statements are often wrong in networking.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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