Automate SAP HANA Backup to S3
An SAP administrator is configuring backups for an SAP HANA database running on Amazon EC2. The backup must be stored in Amazon S3 for long-term retention. Which AWS service should be used to automate the backup process?
Quick Answer
The answer is AWS Backup. This service is the correct choice because it provides a fully managed, policy-driven solution to automate SAP HANA backup to S3, using pre- and post-scripts to ensure database consistency during the process. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of which native AWS service is purpose-built for backup orchestration versus custom or partial solutions. A common trap is confusing Amazon S3 Lifecycle policies, which only manage object expiration and tiering, or assuming AWS Lambda is the best fit—while Lambda can work, it requires significant custom coding and maintenance, making AWS Backup the simpler, supported approach. Remember the memory tip: “Backup is for backup, Lifecycle is for lifecycle”—AWS Backup handles the orchestration and scheduling, while S3 Lifecycle handles what happens to the backup files after they are stored.
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse AWS Backup with Amazon S3 Lifecycle policies, thinking that lifecycle rules alone can automate database backups, but lifecycle policies only manage existing S3 objects and cannot initiate the backup process from SAP HANA.
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 Backup
AWS Backup is the correct choice because it provides a fully managed, policy-driven backup service that can automate and centralize backups for SAP HANA databases running on Amazon EC2. It integrates natively with SAP HANA using Backint agents, enabling automated, consistent, and application-aware backups directly to Amazon S3 for long-term retention without custom scripting.
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 Backup
Why this is correct
AWS Backup can orchestrate HANA backups with pre/post scripts.
- ✗
Amazon S3 Lifecycle policies
Why it's wrong here
Lifecycle policies manage expiration, not backup creation.
- ✗
AWS Lambda
Why it's wrong here
Lambda could be used but requires custom development.
- ✗
Amazon EBS Snapshots
Why it's wrong here
EBS snapshots are crash-consistent, not application-consistent for HANA.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
Go deeper
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on PAS-C01
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. An SAP administrator needs to back up SAP HANA database to Amazon S3. Which AWS service or feature should be used to automate this backup?
easy- A.Amazon EBS snapshots
- ✓ B.SAP HANA Backup and Recovery with Backint
- C.AWS Backup
- D.S3 Lifecycle policies
Why B: The SAP HANA Backup and Recovery feature can back up directly to S3 via the Backint agent. Option A is incorrect because EBS snapshots capture the entire volume, not just the HANA database, and are not SAP HANA-aware. Option C is incorrect because AWS Backup supports some databases but not SAP HANA directly. Option D is incorrect because S3 Lifecycle policies manage object retention, not backup initiation.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PAS-C01 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 PAS-C01 exam.