AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (SAP-C02) — Question 274

A solutions architect is planning to migrate critical Microsoft SQL Server databases to AWS. Because the databases are legacy systems, the solutions architect will move the databases to a modern data architecture. The solutions architect must migrate the databases with near-zero downtime.

Which solution will meet these requirements?

Answer options

• A. Use AWS Application Migration Service and the AWS Schema Conversion Tool (AWS SCT). Perform an in-place upgrade before the migration. Export the migrated data to Amazon Aurora Serverless after cutover. Repoint the applications to Amazon Aurora.
• B. Use AWS Database Migration Service (AWS DMS) to rehost the database. Set Amazon S3 as a target. Set up change data capture (CDC) replication. When the source and destination are fully synchronized, load the data from Amazon S3 into an Amazon RDS for Microsoft SQL Server DB instance.
• C. Use native database high availability tools. Connect the source system to an Amazon RDS for Microsoft SQL Server DB instance. Configure replication accordingly. When data replication is finished, transition the workload to an Amazon RDS for Microsoft SQL Server DB instance.
• D. Use AWS Application Migration Service. Rehost the database server on Amazon EC2. When data replication is finished, detach the database and move the database to an Amazon RDS for Microsoft SQL Server DB instance. Reattach the database and then cut over all networking.

Correct answer: C

Explanation

Option C is correct because using native SQL Server high availability and replication tools allows for a direct, real-time sync with Amazon RDS for Microsoft SQL Server, enabling a switchover with near-zero downtime. Option B introduces latency and complexity by routing data through Amazon S3 as an intermediate target. Option D requires detaching and reattaching the database, which inevitably causes significant downtime during the migration process.