A 4TB production database must migrate to Aurora with downtime measured in minutes, not the days a full copy takes. Which DMS approach achieves this?
A.Full load task only, performed during a maintenance window
The source must stay down for the whole multi-day copy.
B.Full load + ongoing replication (CDC) — sync changes continuously, then cut over
Correct. Bulk copy + continuous change capture + quick cutover.
C.Snapshot the database and restore it to Aurora
Snapshots aren't cross-engine and still require copy downtime.
D.Export to S3 and import into Aurora
S3 export/import is slower and offers no change capture.
Why this answer
Full-load + CDC is the minimal-downtime pattern: the bulk copy runs while the source stays live, ongoing replication keeps the target in sync, and cutover happens when lag is near zero — minutes of downtime regardless of database size. Full-load-only requires the source offline for the entire copy.
Correct answer: B · Last reviewed 2026-11-02
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