The answer is to use AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) with ongoing replication, specifically change data capture (CDC). This approach minimizes downtime because CDC continuously captures and applies incremental changes from the source commercial database to the target Amazon RDS instance, allowing the source to remain fully operational during the bulk load phase and only requiring a brief cutover window to sync final transactions. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of high-availability migration strategies, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly choose a manual dump (which requires extended downtime) or an offline tool like Snowball. Remember that for a 500 GB database, the key is keeping the source live while replicating changes, so think "CDC keeps the clock ticking." A simple memory tip: "DMS + CDC = Downtime Minimized Success."
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 an application that uses a commercial database to Amazon RDS. The database size is 500 GB. Which migration approach minimizes downtime?
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 (AWS DMS) with ongoing replication (change data capture).
Option B is correct because AWS DMS with CDC minimizes downtime. Option A is wrong because a manual dump requires downtime. Option C is wrong because S3 is not for live migration. Option D is wrong because Snowball is offline.
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 native database tools to export and import data.
Why it's wrong here
This requires significant downtime.
✗
Use AWS Snowball Edge to transfer the database files.
Why it's wrong here
Snowball is offline and not suitable for minimizing downtime.
✓
Use AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) with ongoing replication (change data capture).
Why this is correct
DMS with CDC allows near-zero downtime.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Copy database files to Amazon S3 and restore to RDS.
Why it's wrong here
This is not a standard migration approach and may not work.
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
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.
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 Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) with ongoing replication (change data capture). — Option B is correct because AWS DMS with CDC minimizes downtime. Option A is wrong because a manual dump requires downtime. Option C is wrong because S3 is not for live migration. Option D is wrong because Snowball is offline.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Question Discussion
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