Quick Answer
The answer is AWS Snowball Edge, as it is the most cost-effective and suitable method for a large data transfer to Glacier Deep Archive using Snowball when migrating 50 TB of archived tape data. This is because Snowball Edge is a physical appliance that bypasses network bandwidth constraints entirely, making it ideal for offline, bulk transfers where data is rarely accessed and network costs would be prohibitive. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of choosing the right migration service based on data volume and access patterns—a common trap is selecting AWS DataSync or CLI multipart upload, which are viable for smaller datasets but become slow and expensive at 50 TB due to sustained network usage. Remember, Snowball Edge is the go-to for petabyte-scale offline loads, while DataSync excels for online, incremental transfers. Memory tip: think "Snowball for the big haul, DataSync for the daily crawl."
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 plans to migrate 50 TB of archived data from on-premises tape storage to Amazon S3 Glacier Deep Archive. The data is rarely accessed. Which migration method is most cost-effective and suitable for the data volume?
AWS DataSync
Why wrong: DataSync is network-based; for 50 TB it might be slow and costly.
AWS CLI with multipart upload
Why wrong: Network upload of 50 TB is time-consuming and expensive.
AWS Snowball Edge
Snowball Edge is designed for large offline data transfers.
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
Why wrong: DMS is for database migration, not file archives.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
AWS Snowball Edge
AWS Snowball Edge is a physical device that can transfer large amounts of data offline, avoiding high network costs. For 50 TB, Snowball Edge is cost-effective and efficient. Option C is correct. Option A (AWS DMS) is for database migration. Option B (AWS DataSync) is for network-based transfers, which may be slow and costly for 50 TB. Option D (AWS CLI with multipart upload) would require significant network bandwidth and time.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
AWS DataSync
Why it's wrong here
DataSync is network-based; for 50 TB it might be slow and costly.
AWS CLI with multipart upload
Why it's wrong here
Network upload of 50 TB is time-consuming and expensive.
AWS Snowball Edge
Why this is correct
Snowball Edge is designed for large offline data transfers.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
Why it's wrong here
DMS is for database migration, not file archives.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Identify which PAS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Migration — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Migration — This question tests Migration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: AWS Snowball Edge — AWS Snowball Edge is a physical device that can transfer large amounts of data offline, avoiding high network costs. For 50 TB, Snowball Edge is cost-effective and efficient. Option C is correct. Option A (AWS DMS) is for database migration. Option B (AWS DataSync) is for network-based transfers, which may be slow and costly for 50 TB. Option D (AWS CLI with multipart upload) would require significant network bandwidth and time.
Identify which PAS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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.
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