The answer is AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication. This solution meets the 1-hour RPO and 4-hour RTO for SAP ERP Oracle disaster recovery on AWS with the least operational overhead because DMS uses change data capture (CDC) to continuously replicate transactions from the primary Oracle database in us-east-1 to a standby in us-west-2, eliminating the need for manual log shipping or complex Oracle Data Guard configurations. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this question tests your ability to balance RPO/RTO requirements against operational simplicity—a common trap is over-engineering with Full Stack Quick Start or native Oracle replication, which add licensing and management burden. Remember that DMS handles schema conversion and failover automatically, making it the leanest cross-region DR choice for SAP on AWS. Memory tip: DMS = “Durable Minimal Setup” for Oracle DR.
PAS-C01 Design of SAP Workloads on AWS Practice Question
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of design of sap workloads on aws. 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.
An architect is designing a disaster recovery (DR) solution for an SAP ERP system on AWS. The primary site is in us-east-1 and the DR site is in us-west-2. The SAP application uses an Oracle database. The RTO is 4 hours and RPO is 1 hour. Which solution meets these requirements with the least operational overhead?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "least"
Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication from the primary Oracle database to a standby in us-west-2
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication provides continuous change data capture (CDC) from the primary Oracle database to a standby in us-west-2, meeting the 1-hour RPO and 4-hour RTO with minimal operational overhead. DMS handles schema conversion, replication, and failover without requiring manual intervention or complex Oracle licensing, making it the most efficient choice for cross-region DR.
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.
✗
Set up Oracle Active Data Guard between the primary and DR regions
Why it's wrong here
Active Data Guard requires additional licensing and more operational overhead compared to DMS.
✗
Take daily EBS snapshots of the database volumes and copy them to us-west-2, then restore using the snapshots
Why it's wrong here
Daily snapshots would not meet the 1-hour RPO.
✗
Use AWS Backup to copy EC2 AMIs and RDS snapshots to us-west-2 every hour
Why it's wrong here
Hourly snapshots may not achieve 1-hour RPO and recovery from AMIs takes longer than 4 hours RTO.
✓
Configure AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication from the primary Oracle database to a standby in us-west-2
Why this is correct
DMS provides continuous replication, meeting RPO of 1 hour, and can be automated for failover.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "least", "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
AWS often tests the misconception that native Oracle replication tools like Data Guard are always the best choice for DR, but the question emphasizes 'least operational overhead,' and DMS avoids the licensing and management burden of Active Data Guard while still meeting the RPO/RTO.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DMS uses Oracle LogMiner or binary reader to capture changes from the source database's redo logs in real time, applying them to the target with minimal latency. Under the hood, DMS creates a full load first, then transitions to CDC mode, which can sustain sub-second replication lag even across AWS regions, provided sufficient network bandwidth and instance sizing. In real-world scenarios, DMS can handle Oracle-specific data types and LOBs, but requires careful configuration of supplemental logging and archive log retention to avoid replication gaps during network interruptions.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Design of SAP Workloads on AWS — This question tests Design of SAP Workloads on AWS — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication from the primary Oracle database to a standby in us-west-2 — AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication provides continuous change data capture (CDC) from the primary Oracle database to a standby in us-west-2, meeting the 1-hour RPO and 4-hour RTO with minimal operational overhead. DMS handles schema conversion, replication, and failover without requiring manual intervention or complex Oracle licensing, making it the most efficient choice for cross-region DR.
What should I do if I get this PAS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "least", "primary". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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