AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional — Question 626

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

AWS Storage Gateway file gateway (S3 File Gateway) provides a seamless way to connect on-premises applications to Amazon S3 using standard file protocols like SMB, making it the most cost-effective solution for storing backups directly in S3. Amazon FSx for Windows File Server options are significantly more expensive and do not store the backup files directly in Amazon S3 as objects. Volume Gateway does not support a direct SMB file share interface to write files directly to S3 in the same simplified manner as S3 File Gateway.