AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (SAP-C02) — Question 262

A company has an on-premises Microsoft SQL Server database that writes a nightly 200 GB export to a local drive. The company wants to move the backups to more robust cloud storage on Amazon S3. The company has set up a 10 Gbps AWS Direct Connect connection between the on-premises data center and AWS.

Which solution meets these requirements MOST cost-effectively?

Answer options

• A. Create a new S3 bucket. Deploy an AWS Storage Gateway file gateway within the VPC that is connected to the Direct Connect connection. Create a new SMB file share. Write nightly database exports to the new SMB file share.
• B. Create an Amazon FSx for Windows File Server Single-AZ file system within the VPC that is connected to the Direct Connect connection. Create a new SMB file share. Write nightly database exports to an SMB file share on the Amazon FSx file system. Enable nightly backups.
• C. Create an Amazon FSx for Windows File Server Multi-AZ file system within the VPC that is connected to the Direct Connect connection. Create a new SMB file share. Write nightly database exports to an SMB file share on the Amazon FSx file system. Enable nightly backups.
• D. Create a new S3 bucket. Deploy an AWS Storage Gateway volume gateway within the VPC that is connected to the Direct Connect connection. Create a new SMB file share. Write nightly database exports to the new SMB file share on the volume gateway, and automate copies of this data to an S3 bucket.

Correct answer: A

Explanation

Option A is the most cost-effective solution because it uses an AWS Storage Gateway file gateway, which is designed for efficient file storage in S3. The other options utilize Amazon FSx, which incurs higher costs due to its managed file system capabilities and features that are unnecessary for simple backup needs.