- A
AWS Server Migration Service
AWS Server Migration Service (SMS) is an agentless service that migrates VMs from on-premises to AWS with minimal changes, making it the correct choice.
- B
AWS Database Migration Service
Why wrong: AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) is designed for database migrations, not for migrating entire virtual machines.
- C
AWS CloudEndure Migration
Why wrong: AWS CloudEndure Migration is a legacy migration service that has been incorporated into AWS Application Migration Service; it is not the recommended service for this scenario.
- D
AWS Application Migration Service
Why wrong: AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) is a newer server migration service, but it typically requires installing an agent on the source VM, which introduces changes. The question specifies minimizing changes, so SMS is the better option here.
SAP-C02 AWS Server Migration Service (SMS) Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of accelerate workload migration and modernization. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. A key principle to apply: aWS Server Migration Service (SMS). 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 virtual machine from on-premises to AWS. The VM runs Windows Server 2012 R2. The company wants to minimize changes to the VM. Which AWS service should the company use to migrate the VM?
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 Server Migration Service
Option A is correct because AWS Server Migration Service (SMS) is an agentless service that specializes in migrating virtual machines from on-premises environments to AWS with minimal changes to the VM configuration. Option B is incorrect because AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) is designed for database migrations, not entire VMs. Option C is incorrect because AWS CloudEndure Migration is a legacy service that has been superseded by AWS Application Migration Service. Option D is incorrect because although AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) can also migrate VMs, it typically requires installing an agent on the source VM, which introduces changes; SMS minimizes changes by using agentless replication.
Key principle: AWS Server Migration Service (SMS)
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
AWS Server Migration Service
Why this is correct
AWS Server Migration Service (SMS) is an agentless service that migrates VMs from on-premises to AWS with minimal changes, making it the correct choice.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
AWS Server Migration Service (SMS)
- ✗
AWS Database Migration Service
Why it's wrong here
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) is designed for database migrations, not for migrating entire virtual machines.
- ✗
AWS CloudEndure Migration
Why it's wrong here
AWS CloudEndure Migration is a legacy migration service that has been incorporated into AWS Application Migration Service; it is not the recommended service for this scenario.
- ✗
AWS Application Migration Service
Why it's wrong here
AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) is a newer server migration service, but it typically requires installing an agent on the source VM, which introduces changes. The question specifies minimizing changes, so SMS is the better option here.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
AWS CloudEndure Migration is a legacy migration service that has been incorporated into AWS Application Migration Service; it is not the recommended service for this scenario.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- AWS Server Migration Service (SMS)
- AWS Application Migration Service (MGN)
- Minimal changes migration
TExam Day Tips
- 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
AWS Server Migration Service (SMS)
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 aWS Server Migration Service (SMS), then practise related SAP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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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 — AWS Server Migration Service (SMS).
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: AWS Server Migration Service — Option A is correct because AWS Server Migration Service (SMS) is an agentless service that specializes in migrating virtual machines from on-premises environments to AWS with minimal changes to the VM configuration. Option B is incorrect because AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) is designed for database migrations, not entire VMs. Option C is incorrect because AWS CloudEndure Migration is a legacy service that has been superseded by AWS Application Migration Service. Option D is incorrect because although AWS Application Migration Service (MGN) can also migrate VMs, it typically requires installing an agent on the source VM, which introduces changes; SMS minimizes changes by using agentless replication.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review aWS Server Migration Service (SMS), then practise related SAP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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?
AWS Server Migration Service (SMS)
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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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