Which AWS Service Provides a Managed Relational MySQL Database?
A user needs a relational database but does not have the resources to manage the hardware, resiliency, and replication. Which AWS service option meets the user's requirements?
Community Votes
100% of anonymous learners picked answer C. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.
Community Insight
The question tests whether you can distinguish a fully managed relational database service from self-managed MySQL on compute or an in-memory cache; the trap is assuming MySQL on Amazon ECS or Amazon EC2 removes database administration work.
A user who needs a relational database without managing hardware, resiliency, or replication should choose Amazon RDS for MySQL. This page confirms option C as the fully managed relational database service that satisfies those operational requirements.
Learners often select running MySQL on Amazon EC2 or Amazon ECS because they think any MySQL deployment is equivalent, but those options still leave operating system, database patching, replication, and high availability to the user.
Community Discussion (3 comments)
- Running MySQL on Amazon ECS still needs to manage DB configuration. - Running MySQL on Amazon EC2 is the same - ElastiCache for Redis is an in-memory store, irrelevantly - Amazon RDS is a fully managed cloud database service => Correct
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Expert Analysis
Why the Answer Is Correct
Amazon RDS for MySQL is a fully managed relational database service that handles hardware provisioning, database setup, patching, backups, and optional Multi-AZ resiliency and read replicas. The question explicitly states the user lacks resources to manage hardware, resiliency, and replication, which are precisely the operational burdens RDS removes. Because it supports the MySQL engine, it also satisfies the relational database requirement without requiring the user to administer the underlying infrastructure. This matches the CLF-C02 objective for identifying AWS database services. Choosing Amazon RDS for MySQL is therefore the only option that addresses both the relational and managed-service conditions.Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A, running MySQL on Amazon ECS, still requires the user to manage the database configuration, storage, backups, and replication inside containers. Option B, running MySQL on Amazon EC2, is an infrastructure-as-a-service deployment where the user retains responsibility for the operating system, MySQL installation, patching, scaling, and high availability. Option D, Amazon ElastiCache for Redis, is an in-memory cache and key-value store rather than a relational database, so it cannot satisfy the SQL relational requirement. None of these alternatives provide the fully managed relational database capability described by the scenario.Community Comment Notes
StevenNGUYEN reasoned that MySQL on ECS or EC2 still needs database configuration management and described Amazon RDS as "a fully managed cloud database service." Aghajee similarly explained that "Amazon RDS (Relational Database Service) is a fully managed relational database service" that covers hardware provisioning, database setup, patching, and backups. petercorn pointed to the official AWS RDS features page as supporting documentation. The community consensus aligns with the analysis that RDS for MySQL is the correct fit for this requirement.Official Reference
Exam Strategy
Focus on the phrase "does not have the resources to manage the hardware, resiliency, and replication" because it signals a fully managed service, not merely a MySQL-compatible environment. Eliminate options that run MySQL on compute services such as Amazon EC2 or Amazon ECS, and eliminate non-relational services such as ElastiCache for Redis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Amazon ElastiCache for Redis wrong when the user needs MySQL?
ElastiCache for Redis is an in-memory cache and key-value store, not a relational database, so it cannot run SQL or provide the relational schema required here.
What does Amazon RDS for MySQL manage on the user's behalf?
Amazon RDS handles hardware provisioning, database setup, patching, backups, and options for Multi-AZ resiliency and read replicas, so the user does not manage that infrastructure.
Related Analysis
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