The answer is AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication. This is the correct choice because DMS performs a full load of the 2 TB Oracle database and then uses Change Data Capture (CDC) to continuously apply incremental changes from the source to the target Amazon RDS instance, enabling an Oracle to RDS migration with minimal downtime. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to combine a bulk transfer with ongoing synchronization to meet near-zero-downtime requirements, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly choose AWS Snowball or a simple one-time export. The key distinction is that DMS handles schema conversion, data validation, and resumable transfers natively, while the 10 Gbps connection ensures the initial load completes quickly. Memory tip: think “Full Load + CDC = Near-Zero Downtime” — the CDC stream is what keeps the target live during cutover.
PAS-C01 Technology Practice Question
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of technology. 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 wants to migrate an on-premises Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle. The database is 2 TB in size and has a 10 Gbps network connection to AWS. The migration must have minimal downtime. Which AWS service should be used for the initial data load?
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) with ongoing replication.
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication is the correct choice because it supports a full load of the 2 TB Oracle database followed by continuous change data capture (CDC) to keep the target RDS instance synchronized with minimal downtime. The 10 Gbps network connection is sufficient for the initial load, and DMS handles schema conversion, data validation, and resumable transfers natively, making it ideal for a near-zero-downtime migration.
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.
✗
Amazon S3 Transfer Acceleration to upload the database dump, then restore to RDS.
Why it's wrong here
This requires taking the source offline to create a dump, causing downtime.
✓
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication.
Why this is correct
DMS supports full load plus change data capture (CDC) for minimal downtime.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
AWS Storage Gateway to replicate the database files to Amazon S3, then restore to RDS.
Why it's wrong here
Storage Gateway is not designed for database migration; it replicates files, not database transactions.
✗
AWS Snowball Edge to ship the data physically, then import to RDS.
Why it's wrong here
Snowball is for large data volumes over slow networks, but it does not support ongoing replication and adds latency.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Snowball Edge for large datasets without considering the minimal downtime requirement, forgetting that physical shipping introduces hours or days of latency and cannot provide ongoing replication, while DMS with CDC is the only option that keeps the source online during migration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DMS uses Oracle LogMiner or binary reader APIs to capture redo log changes in real time during the CDC phase, allowing the target RDS database to stay nearly synchronized with the source. The initial full load is performed in parallel using multiple tasks and table mappings, and DMS automatically handles LOBs, constraints, and indexes during the load. In a real-world scenario, if the source Oracle database uses Transparent Data Encryption (TDE), DMS requires additional configuration to decrypt the redo logs, which can impact performance if not planned.
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.
Technology — This question tests Technology — 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) with ongoing replication. — AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) with ongoing replication is the correct choice because it supports a full load of the 2 TB Oracle database followed by continuous change data capture (CDC) to keep the target RDS instance synchronized with minimal downtime. The 10 Gbps network connection is sufficient for the initial load, and DMS handles schema conversion, data validation, and resumable transfers natively, making it ideal for a near-zero-downtime migration.
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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