The answer is to use AWS Snowball Edge to physically ship the data. This is the correct approach because for a 5 TB SAP HANA dataset, transferring over a standard network connection—even a dedicated one—would be bottlenecked by bandwidth, potentially taking days or weeks. Snowball Edge bypasses this entirely by loading the data onto a ruggedized device shipped to your site, then shipping it back to AWS for direct ingestion into an S3 bucket, making it the fastest initial transfer method for large-scale migrations. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this question tests your ability to choose the right data transfer strategy under strict downtime constraints; a common trap is selecting AWS Direct Connect or AWS DataSync, which are slower for multi-terabyte volumes. Remember the memory tip: “If it’s terabytes and time is tight, ship the Snowball—don’t fight the pipe.”
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 SAP administrator needs to migrate an on-premises SAP HANA system to AWS. The total size of the HANA data and log volumes is 5 TB. The administrator wants to minimize downtime and use the fastest possible initial data transfer method. Which approach should they 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
✓
Use AWS Snowball Edge to physically ship the data
AWS Snowball Edge provides a physical data transfer device that can be shipped to the on-premises site, loaded with the 5 TB of SAP HANA data and log volumes, and then shipped back to AWS for ingestion into an S3 bucket. This approach offers the fastest initial transfer for large datasets (multi-TB) over a WAN, as it bypasses network bandwidth limitations entirely, minimizing downtime compared to internet-based or dedicated network transfers.
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.
✗
Use Amazon S3 Transfer Acceleration to upload the data over the internet
Why it's wrong here
Upload over the internet may be slower and less reliable for large datasets.
✓
Use AWS Snowball Edge to physically ship the data
Why this is correct
Snowball Edge can transfer 5 TB quickly and securely, minimizing downtime.
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.
✗
Use AWS Direct Connect to transfer the data over a dedicated network connection
Why it's wrong here
Direct Connect provides a dedicated line but still limited by bandwidth; 5 TB may take days.
✗
Use VPC Peering to connect on-premises to AWS and copy data
Why it's wrong here
VPC Peering is for connecting VPCs, not for on-premises connectivity.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Direct Connect (Option C) assuming a dedicated network is always fastest, but for large initial bulk transfers (multi-TB), physical shipping via Snowball Edge is faster because it avoids network bandwidth constraints and transfer time, which is a key concept tested in the PAS-C01 exam for minimizing downtime during SAP HANA migrations.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS Snowball Edge uses AES-256 encryption for data at rest and TLS 1.2 for data in transit during the copy process, with the device acting as a local NFS endpoint or using the Snowball Edge client for parallel data transfer. For SAP HANA migrations, the data is typically exported using hdbsql or BACKUP DATA commands, then copied to the Snowball; after shipping, the data is imported into an S3 bucket and restored onto an EC2-based HANA instance. In real-world scenarios, Snowball Edge can transfer 5 TB in a few days including shipping time, whereas a 1 Gbps Direct Connect would take over 11 hours of continuous transfer, not accounting for setup and potential retransmissions.
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 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.
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: Use AWS Snowball Edge to physically ship the data — AWS Snowball Edge provides a physical data transfer device that can be shipped to the on-premises site, loaded with the 5 TB of SAP HANA data and log volumes, and then shipped back to AWS for ingestion into an S3 bucket. This approach offers the fastest initial transfer for large datasets (multi-TB) over a WAN, as it bypasses network bandwidth limitations entirely, minimizing downtime compared to internet-based or dedicated network transfers.
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: "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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