Question 1,168 of 1,733
MigrationmediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Minimizing Downtime for Database Migration to RDS Using AWS DMS

This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of migration. 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.

A company is migrating an on-premises Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle. They need to minimize downtime and ensure data consistency. Which AWS service or feature 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 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 Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) with ongoing replication

Option A (AWS DMS with ongoing replication) is correct because it supports a full load followed by continuous change data capture (CDC) replication, enabling minimal downtime and data consistency during migration from on-premises Oracle to Amazon RDS for Oracle. Option B (RDS Read Replica) is wrong because it is used for scaling read traffic, not for migrating data. Option C (VPC Peering) is a networking feature that connects VPCs but does not perform data migration. Option D (AWS SCT) is wrong because it only converts database schemas and code, not the actual data.

Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.

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 Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) with ongoing replication

    Why this is correct

    DMS with ongoing replication supports near-zero downtime migration.

    Clue confirmation

    The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.

    Related concept

    Standard ACLs match source addresses.

  • RDS Read Replica

    Why it's wrong here

    Read Replicas are for read offloading, not migration.

  • VPC Peering

    Why it's wrong here

    VPC Peering connects networks, not databases.

  • AWS Schema Conversion Tool (AWS SCT)

    Why it's wrong here

    AWS SCT is used for schema conversion, not data replication.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match

ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • Standard ACLs match source addresses.
  • Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
  • The first matching ACL entry is used.
  • There is usually an implicit deny at the end.

TExam Day Tips

  • Check inbound versus outbound direction.
  • Read the ACL from top to bottom.
  • Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.

Key takeaway

ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related PAS-C01 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.

Related practice questions

Related PAS-C01 practice-question pages

Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this PAS-C01 question test?

Migration — This question tests Migration — Standard ACLs match source addresses..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) with ongoing replication — Option A (AWS DMS with ongoing replication) is correct because it supports a full load followed by continuous change data capture (CDC) replication, enabling minimal downtime and data consistency during migration from on-premises Oracle to Amazon RDS for Oracle. Option B (RDS Read Replica) is wrong because it is used for scaling read traffic, not for migrating data. Option C (VPC Peering) is a networking feature that connects VPCs but does not perform data migration. Option D (AWS SCT) is wrong because it only converts database schemas and code, not the actual data.

What should I do if I get this PAS-C01 question wrong?

Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related PAS-C01 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.

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?

Standard ACLs match source addresses.

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Same concept, more angles

8 more ways 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. A company is migrating a large Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle. They want to minimize downtime during the migration. Which AWS service should they use to replicate data in real time?

easy
  • A.AWS Server Migration Service (SMS)
  • B.AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT)
  • C.AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
  • D.AWS DataSync

Why C: AWS DMS (Database Migration Service) supports ongoing replication with minimal downtime, making it ideal for migrating large databases like Oracle to Amazon RDS for Oracle while keeping the source and target in sync. Option A (AWS SMS) is for server migration, not database replication. Option B (AWS SCT) is a schema conversion tool, not for real-time data replication. Option D (AWS DataSync) is for file-based data transfer, not database replication.

Variation 2. A company is planning to migrate a legacy Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle. The database is 500 GB and has a 24/7 workload. The company needs minimal downtime. Which AWS service should be used for the migration?

easy
  • A.AWS Command Line Interface (CLI)
  • B.AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT)
  • C.AWS Snowball
  • D.AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)

Why D: The correct answer is D: AWS Database Migration Service (DMS). AWS DMS supports homogeneous migrations (Oracle to Oracle) and can perform minimal-downtime migrations by using change data capture (CDC) to replicate ongoing changes after the initial full load. Option A (AWS CLI) is not a migration service; it's a command-line tool for managing AWS services. Option B (AWS Schema Conversion Tool) is used for converting schema when migrating between different database engines, not for data migration itself. Option C (AWS Snowball) is a physical data transfer device for large datasets, but it does not support minimal-downtime online migrations for a 24/7 workload.

Variation 3. A company is migrating a legacy on-premises Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle. They need to minimize downtime. Which AWS service should they use for ongoing replication during the migration?

easy
  • A.AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT)
  • B.AWS Server Migration Service (SMS)
  • C.AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
  • D.AWS DataSync

Why C: AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication (change data capture) allows near-zero downtime migration. Option A (AWS Schema Conversion Tool) is wrong because it is a schema conversion tool, not a replication service. Option B (AWS Server Migration Service) is wrong because it is for server migration, not database replication. Option D (AWS DataSync) is wrong because it is for file/object storage, not database replication.

Variation 4. A company is migrating a legacy Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle. The source database is 11.2.0.4 and the target is 12.1.0.2. Which AWS service should be used for the migration with minimal downtime?

easy
  • A.Create an RDS read replica from the source database using Oracle Data Guard.
  • B.Use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with change data capture (CDC) from the source Oracle database.
  • C.Export the database to flat files, upload to Amazon S3, and restore using an RDS read replica.
  • D.Use AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) to convert the schema and then use AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) for data replication.

Why B: AWS DMS supports heterogeneous migrations and can replicate data with minimal downtime using change data capture (CDC). Option B is correct because DMS can migrate data from Oracle 11.2.0.4 to RDS Oracle 12.1.0.2 with CDC to minimize downtime. Option A is incorrect because RDS read replicas cannot be created from an on-premises source database; they are for RDS instances only. Option C is incorrect because exporting to flat files and restoring via an RDS read replica is not a valid procedure and would cause downtime. Option D is incorrect because SCT is for schema conversion, but since both source and target are Oracle, no schema conversion is needed; DMS alone is sufficient.

Variation 5. A company is migrating an on-premises Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle. They want to minimize downtime. Which AWS service should they use for the initial data load and ongoing replication?

easy
  • A.AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT)
  • B.AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
  • C.AWS Snowball
  • D.AWS DataSync

Why B: AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) supports ongoing replication from Oracle to RDS Oracle, enabling minimal downtime migration. Option A is incorrect because AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT) is for schema conversion, not replication. Option C is incorrect because AWS Snowball is for large-scale data transfer, not continuous replication. Option D is incorrect because AWS DataSync is optimized for file storage, not databases.

Variation 6. A company is migrating its on-premises Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle. They need to minimize downtime and ensure data consistency. Which AWS service should they use for the initial data load and ongoing replication?

easy
  • A.AWS Snowball Edge
  • B.AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
  • C.AWS DataSync
  • D.AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT)

Why B: **Option A (AWS Snowball Edge):** Incorrect because Snowball Edge is designed for offline data transfer, not for ongoing replication with minimal downtime. It could be used for initial data load but does not support continuous replication. **Option B (AWS DMS):** Correct. AWS Database Migration Service can perform a full load of the source Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle and then continuously replicate changes using Change Data Capture (CDC) to minimize downtime and ensure consistency. **Option C (AWS DataSync):** Incorrect because DataSync is used for file-based data transfers (e.g., NFS/SMB shares), not for database replication. **Option D (AWS SCT):** Incorrect because the Schema Conversion Tool only converts database schemas and code; it does not handle data migration or replication.

Variation 7. A company is migrating an on-premises Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle. They want to minimize downtime and ensure data consistency. Which AWS service should be used for the migration?

easy
  • A.AWS Schema Conversion Tool (SCT)
  • B.AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
  • C.AWS Server Migration Service (SMS)
  • D.AWS DataSync

Why B: AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) is designed for minimal-downtime database migrations. Option B is correct. Option A (SCT) is used for schema conversion, not the migration itself. Option C (Server Migration Service) is for server-level migrations. Option D (DataSync) is for file-based data transfer.

Variation 8. A company is migrating an on-premises Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle. They need to minimize downtime and ensure data consistency. Which AWS service should be used for the initial data load?

easy
  • A.AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS)
  • B.AWS Snowball Edge
  • C.AWS Schema Conversion Tool (AWS SCT)
  • D.AWS DataSync

Why A: AWS DMS can perform a full load and then ongoing replication to keep the target in sync, minimizing downtime. AWS SCT helps with schema conversion but not data transfer. AWS DataSync is for file data, not databases. AWS Snowball is for large offline data transfer but not suitable for minimal downtime with replication.

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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026

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