Answer: MySQL-compatible Amazon Aurora Serverless

## Explanation **MySQL-compatible Amazon Aurora Serverless (Option C)** is the correct solution for the following reasons: ### Key Requirements Analysis: 1. **Sporadic usage patterns** - Heavy usage at beginning of each month, moderate usage at start of each week, unpredictable usage during the week 2. **Cost-effective solution** - Need to minimize costs during low usage periods 3. **No database modifications required** - Must be compatible with existing MySQL database 4. **Moving from on-premises MySQL to AWS Cloud** ### Why Aurora Serverless is the Best Choice: **Automatic Scaling:** - Aurora Serverless automatically scales database capacity up and down based on actual usage - Perfect for sporadic workloads where usage is unpredictable - Scales to zero when not in use (cost savings) **Cost Optimization:** - Pay only for the database capacity you use - No need to provision for peak capacity that sits idle most of the time - Automatic pause during idle periods reduces costs significantly **MySQL Compatibility:** - Aurora Serverless is fully compatible with MySQL - No database modifications required - Uses the same MySQL protocol and APIs **Managed Service Benefits:** - AWS handles patching, backups, and maintenance - High availability with multi-AZ deployments - Automated failover ### Why Other Options Are Not Optimal: **A. Amazon DynamoDB:** - NoSQL database, not compatible with MySQL - Would require significant application/database modifications - Not suitable for relational data without major changes **B. Amazon RDS for MySQL:** - Requires provisioning fixed capacity - Not cost-effective for sporadic usage (pay for idle capacity) - Manual scaling required **D. MySQL on EC2 with Auto Scaling:** - Complex to manage scaling for databases - Auto Scaling groups work better for stateless applications - Database replication and data consistency challenges with scaling - Requires manual management of database software ### Cost Comparison: - **Aurora Serverless:** Pay per ACU (Aurora Capacity Unit) per second, scales to zero - **RDS MySQL:** Pay for provisioned instance 24/7 regardless of usage - **EC2:** Pay for EC2 instances + EBS storage + management overhead ### Performance Considerations: - Aurora Serverless provides fast scaling (typically within 5 seconds) - Maintains connections during scaling operations - Built-in read replicas for high availability **Conclusion:** Aurora Serverless provides the perfect balance of MySQL compatibility, automatic scaling for sporadic workloads, and cost optimization by only charging for actual usage.

Author: LeetQuiz Editorial Team