- A
Use a single database instance with automated snapshots to a different region
Why wrong: Snapshots are not real-time and recovery takes time.
- B
Deploy the database in a single availability zone with multiple EC2 instances
Why wrong: This protects against instance failure but not zone failure.
- C
Use a read replica in a different region with asynchronous replication
Why wrong: Asynchronous replication may cause data loss and failover is not automatic.
- D
Deploy the database with a stand-by replica in a different availability zone using synchronous replication
Synchronous replication and automatic failover protect against zone failure.
Question 915 of 997
CV0-004 Cloud Architecture and Design Practice Question
This CV0-004 practice question tests your understanding of cloud architecture and design. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 uses a public cloud IaaS model to host a database. They want to ensure the database remains available if an entire availability zone fails. Which configuration would provide the highest availability with automatic failover?
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
✓
Deploy the database with a stand-by replica in a different availability zone using synchronous replication
Option D is correct because deploying a database with a stand-by replica in a different availability zone using synchronous replication ensures that all committed transactions are written to both the primary and the stand-by before acknowledging the client. This provides automatic failover with zero data loss (RPO=0) and high availability, as the stand-by replica can immediately take over if the entire availability zone fails.
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 a single database instance with automated snapshots to a different region
Why it's wrong here
Snapshots are not real-time and recovery takes time.
- ✗
Deploy the database in a single availability zone with multiple EC2 instances
Why it's wrong here
This protects against instance failure but not zone failure.
- ✗
Use a read replica in a different region with asynchronous replication
Why it's wrong here
Asynchronous replication may cause data loss and failover is not automatic.
- ✓
Deploy the database with a stand-by replica in a different availability zone using synchronous replication
Why this is correct
Synchronous replication and automatic failover protect against zone failure.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between high availability (automatic failover within the same region) and disaster recovery (manual or automated recovery to a different region), and the trap here is that candidates confuse a read replica or cross-region snapshot with a true high-availability solution that provides automatic failover and zero data loss.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Synchronous replication typically uses a two-phase commit protocol or a quorum-based mechanism (e.g., Paxos or Raft) to ensure data consistency across replicas. In a real-world scenario, such as an Amazon RDS Multi-AZ deployment, the stand-by replica is kept in sync using synchronous replication at the storage layer (e.g., Amazon EBS synchronous replication), and automatic failover is handled by a DNS CNAME update that points to the stand-by within 60-120 seconds. This configuration achieves a Recovery Time Objective (RTO) of typically 1-2 minutes and a Recovery Point Objective (RPO) of zero.
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 practitioner preparing for the CV0-004 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Visual reference
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CV0-004 question test?
Cloud Architecture and Design — This question tests Cloud Architecture and Design — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Deploy the database with a stand-by replica in a different availability zone using synchronous replication — Option D is correct because deploying a database with a stand-by replica in a different availability zone using synchronous replication ensures that all committed transactions are written to both the primary and the stand-by before acknowledging the client. This provides automatic failover with zero data loss (RPO=0) and high availability, as the stand-by replica can immediately take over if the entire availability zone fails.
What should I do if I get this CV0-004 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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CV0-004 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 CV0-004 exam.
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