The answer is to rehost the application on Amazon EC2 Windows instances with SQL Server using License Mobility. This is the correct choice because it directly addresses the goal to minimize licensing costs for .NET SQL Server migration to AWS by leveraging existing SQL Server licenses through the License Mobility benefit, allowing you to run them on AWS without purchasing new licenses, while also avoiding the operational overhead of refactoring the legacy .NET code. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the trade-off between cost optimization and minimal change—a common trap is choosing refactoring to .NET Core or containers, which introduce significant rework and complexity that the question explicitly wants to avoid. Remember the key principle: when the goal is to minimize both licensing costs and operational overhead for a legacy Windows and SQL Server stack, rehosting with License Mobility is the path of least resistance. Memory tip: “Rehost to reduce, refactor to rework.”
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization
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 .NET application to AWS. The application currently runs on Windows Server and uses a SQL Server database. The company wants to minimize licensing costs and operational overhead. 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: "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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Rehost the application on Amazon EC2 Windows instances with SQL Server using License Mobility.
Option A is correct because rehosting on Amazon EC2 with SQL Server and Windows Server licenses included through License Mobility can minimize costs and changes. Option B is incorrect because refactoring to .NET Core and SQL Server on Linux may reduce licensing costs but requires significant changes. Option C is incorrect because replacing with RDS for SQL Server may reduce operational overhead but licensing costs depend on license model. Option D is incorrect because containers add complexity and may not be suitable for legacy .NET without changes.
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.
✗
Replatform using Docker containers on Amazon ECS with Windows containers.
Why it's wrong here
Containers require application changes and may not be compatible.
✓
Rehost the application on Amazon EC2 Windows instances with SQL Server using License Mobility.
Why this is correct
Rehosting minimizes changes and can leverage existing licenses through License Mobility.
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.
✗
Replatform the application by moving the database to Amazon RDS for SQL Server and the application to Elastic Beanstalk.
Why it's wrong here
This may increase costs due to RDS licensing and Elastic Beanstalk overhead.
✗
Refactor the application to .NET Core and deploy on Amazon Linux with SQL Server.
Why it's wrong here
Refactoring to .NET Core requires significant development effort.
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 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
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.
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: Rehost the application on Amazon EC2 Windows instances with SQL Server using License Mobility. — Option A is correct because rehosting on Amazon EC2 with SQL Server and Windows Server licenses included through License Mobility can minimize costs and changes. Option B is incorrect because refactoring to .NET Core and SQL Server on Linux may reduce licensing costs but requires significant changes. Option C is incorrect because replacing with RDS for SQL Server may reduce operational overhead but licensing costs depend on license model. Option D is incorrect because containers add complexity and may not be suitable for legacy .NET without changes.
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.
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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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