The correct answer is AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) for ongoing replication to a DR instance combined with automated snapshots for fast recovery. AWS DMS enables continuous change data capture from the Oracle source database to a target DR instance, keeping data synchronized with minimal latency to achieve a Recovery Point Objective under 15 minutes, while automated snapshots of that DR instance allow rapid restoration within the two-hour Recovery Time Objective. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to meet strict RPO and RTO requirements without relying on Oracle Data Guard or complex licensing—a common trap is assuming you need Oracle-specific replication tools, but DMS plus snapshots avoids that cost and complexity. Remember the memory tip: “DMS for data, snapshots for speed” to recall that ongoing replication handles the RPO, while automated snapshots handle the RTO.
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.
A company runs SAP on AWS with an Oracle database. They want to implement a disaster recovery strategy with a Recovery Point Objective (RPO) of less than 15 minutes and a Recovery Time Objective (RTO) of less than 2 hours. Which combination of AWS services should they use?
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 (DMS) for ongoing replication to a DR instance, and automated snapshots for fast recovery.
AWS DMS can perform ongoing replication from an Oracle source database to a target DR instance with minimal latency, enabling an RPO of less than 15 minutes. Automated snapshots of the DR instance allow fast recovery within the 2-hour RTO. This combination meets the stated RPO and RTO requirements without relying on Oracle-specific licensing or complex manual scripts.
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.
✗
Oracle Data Guard for replication and Amazon Route 53 for DNS failover.
Why it's wrong here
Oracle Data Guard is a valid solution but it is not an AWS service; the question asks for AWS services.
✓
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) for ongoing replication to a DR instance, and automated snapshots for fast recovery.
Why this is correct
AWS DMS with ongoing replication can achieve RPO <15 min, and automated snapshots allow recovery within RTO <2 hours.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Amazon S3 cross-region replication for database files and a script to import them.
Why it's wrong here
S3 replication alone does not provide ongoing database replication with RPO <15 min.
✗
AWS Backup to take weekly snapshots and restore in the DR region.
Why it's wrong here
Weekly snapshots cannot achieve an RPO of less than 15 minutes.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
AWS often tests the misconception that Oracle Data Guard is the only viable replication method for Oracle databases on AWS, but the question specifically requires an AWS-native solution that meets strict RPO/RTO targets without additional Oracle licensing costs.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS DMS uses Change Data Capture (CDC) to capture Oracle redo logs and apply changes to the target instance in near real-time, supporting sub-15-minute RPO. Automated snapshots of the DR instance can be restored quickly using Amazon EBS snapshot capabilities, which are incremental and can be restored to a new instance in minutes. In a real-world scenario, combining DMS with a standby instance in a different AWS Region ensures that even if the primary region fails, the DR instance can be promoted with minimal data loss.
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: AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) for ongoing replication to a DR instance, and automated snapshots for fast recovery. — AWS DMS can perform ongoing replication from an Oracle source database to a target DR instance with minimal latency, enabling an RPO of less than 15 minutes. Automated snapshots of the DR instance allow fast recovery within the 2-hour RTO. This combination meets the stated RPO and RTO requirements without relying on Oracle-specific licensing or complex manual scripts.
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.
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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