The answer is asynchronous replication from primary to DR. This strategy meets the 15-minute RPO by transmitting data changes in near-real-time batches, typically within seconds to minutes, without requiring the ultra-low-latency link that synchronous replication demands—making it far more cost-effective for geographically separated sites like US-East and US-West. The 2-hour RTO is achievable because the DR site can be activated directly from the replicated data, avoiding the slower process of restoring from backups. On the CompTIA Cloud+ CV0-004 exam, this question tests your ability to balance RPO/RTO requirements against cost and latency constraints; a common trap is choosing synchronous replication, which would guarantee zero data loss but is impractical and expensive across long distances. Remember the memory tip: “Async for distance, sync for sync”—asynchronous replication is your go-to when sites are far apart and you have a few minutes of data loss tolerance.
CV0-004 Cloud Architecture and Design Practice Question
This CV0-004 practice question tests your understanding of cloud architecture and design. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. 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 designing a disaster recovery plan for its cloud infrastructure. The primary site is in US-East, and the DR site is in US-West. The RPO is 15 minutes, and the RTO is 2 hours. Which replication strategy best meets these requirements at the lowest cost?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Asynchronous replication from primary to DR
Asynchronous replication sends data changes from the primary site to the DR site with minimal delay, typically within seconds to minutes, which meets the 15-minute RPO. It does not require the low-latency link that synchronous replication demands, making it more cost-effective for geographically separated sites. The 2-hour RTO is achievable because the DR site can be activated quickly from the replicated data, without the overhead of restoring from backups.
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.
✗
Scheduled nightly backups to DR
Why it's wrong here
Nightly backups do not meet 15-minute RPO.
✓
Asynchronous replication from primary to DR
Why this is correct
Asynchronous replication achieves near-real-time RPO with lower cost and bandwidth requirements.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "best", "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Synchronous replication between sites
Why it's wrong here
Synchronous replication is costlier and may have performance impact over long distances.
✗
No replication; manual failover
Why it's wrong here
No replication results in significant data loss, exceeding the RPO.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that synchronous replication is always better for DR, but the trap here is that the 15-minute RPO allows asynchronous replication, which is far more cost-effective across long distances than the expensive low-latency links required for synchronous replication.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Asynchronous replication typically uses a write-back or log-shipping mechanism where the primary acknowledges writes locally before sending changes to the DR site. In cloud environments, this is often implemented via block-level replication (e.g., AWS Elastic Block Store replication or Azure Site Recovery) or database-level log shipping (e.g., MySQL asynchronous replication). The key trade-off is that a small amount of data loss (up to the replication lag) is tolerated, but this is acceptable for an RPO of 15 minutes, whereas synchronous replication would require sub-millisecond latency and is typically used for zero-RPO scenarios within a single region.
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.
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.
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: Asynchronous replication from primary to DR — Asynchronous replication sends data changes from the primary site to the DR site with minimal delay, typically within seconds to minutes, which meets the 15-minute RPO. It does not require the low-latency link that synchronous replication demands, making it more cost-effective for geographically separated sites. The 2-hour RTO is achievable because the DR site can be activated quickly from the replicated data, without the overhead of restoring from backups.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best", "primary". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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