- A
Deploy the RDS instance in Multi-AZ configuration and take frequent snapshots to another Region.
Why wrong: Multi-AZ does not protect against Region failure; cross-Region snapshots would not meet RPO of 15 minutes if taken less frequently.
- B
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) for continuous replication to an RDS instance in another Region.
Why wrong: DMS can replicate but adds cost and complexity; not the lowest cost option.
- C
Use Amazon Aurora Global Database, which provides global replication with typical RPO of 1 second.
Why wrong: Aurora Global Database is more expensive than using RDS read replicas.
- D
Create a cross-Region read replica of the RDS MySQL instance in another Region. In a disaster, promote the read replica to a standalone instance.
Cross-Region read replicas provide asynchronous replication with low RPO, and promotion takes minutes, meeting RTO at lower cost than other solutions.
Low-Cost Disaster Recovery for RDS MySQL
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design for new solutions. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. 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 financial services company is designing a multi-tier application that must achieve a Recovery Time Objective (RTO) of 1 hour and a Recovery Point Objective (RPO) of 15 minutes for a database tier. The application uses Amazon RDS for MySQL with Multi-AZ deployment. Which disaster recovery strategy meets these requirements at the LOWEST cost?
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
Create a cross-Region read replica of the RDS MySQL instance in another Region. In a disaster, promote the read replica to a standalone instance.
Option D is correct because a cross-Region read replica for Amazon RDS MySQL provides asynchronous replication with an RPO typically under 15 minutes, and promoting it during a disaster can achieve an RTO of 1 hour. This approach incurs only the cost of the replica instance and cross-Region data transfer, making it the lowest-cost option that meets the stated RTO and RPO requirements.
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.
- ✗
Deploy the RDS instance in Multi-AZ configuration and take frequent snapshots to another Region.
Why it's wrong here
Multi-AZ does not protect against Region failure; cross-Region snapshots would not meet RPO of 15 minutes if taken less frequently.
- ✗
Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) for continuous replication to an RDS instance in another Region.
Why it's wrong here
DMS can replicate but adds cost and complexity; not the lowest cost option.
- ✗
Use Amazon Aurora Global Database, which provides global replication with typical RPO of 1 second.
Why it's wrong here
Aurora Global Database is more expensive than using RDS read replicas.
- ✓
Create a cross-Region read replica of the RDS MySQL instance in another Region. In a disaster, promote the read replica to a standalone instance.
Why this is correct
Cross-Region read replicas provide asynchronous replication with low RPO, and promotion takes minutes, meeting RTO at lower cost than other solutions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse Multi-AZ (high availability within a Region) with cross-Region disaster recovery, or assume that Aurora Global Database is always the best choice for low RPO without considering cost constraints, leading them to overlook the simpler and cheaper cross-Region read replica option that still meets the specified RPO of 15 minutes.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Cross-Region read replicas for RDS MySQL use MySQL's native asynchronous replication (binlog-based), which typically achieves an RPO of a few seconds to minutes depending on network latency and workload. During promotion, the replica becomes a standalone instance with a new endpoint, and the RTO includes DNS propagation and any remaining replication lag, which can be managed within 1 hour by monitoring lag and automating failover. This strategy is cost-effective because you pay only for the replica instance and cross-Region data transfer, without additional replication software or infrastructure.
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.
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
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
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
Design for New Solutions — This question tests Design for New Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a cross-Region read replica of the RDS MySQL instance in another Region. In a disaster, promote the read replica to a standalone instance. — Option D is correct because a cross-Region read replica for Amazon RDS MySQL provides asynchronous replication with an RPO typically under 15 minutes, and promoting it during a disaster can achieve an RTO of 1 hour. This approach incurs only the cost of the replica instance and cross-Region data transfer, making it the lowest-cost option that meets the stated RTO and RPO requirements.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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