The correct solution is: Use AWS DataSync to automate and schedule transfers between the NFS file systems across Regions.

AWS DataSync is purpose-built for transferring large datasets between on-premises storage systems and AWS or between AWS services across Regions. It supports NFS and SMB file systems and provides features like scheduled transfers, encryption, built-in bandwidth throttling, and verification mechanisms. It also requires minimal setup and maintenance, making it ideal for low-overhead disaster recovery synchronization tasks.

The option Deploy Snowball Edge devices to periodically ship data between the two AWS Regions is not suitable for ongoing or regular transfers. Snowball is best for one-time migrations or offline data movement, especially when network connectivity is limited or insufficient. It also introduces significant operational overhead, including shipping logistics and manual management.

The option Set up an SFTP server on an EC2 instance to manually handle file transfers between Regions is operationally intensive. It requires maintaining EC2 infrastructure, managing user access, securing file transfers, and potentially writing and maintaining automation scripts. This approach does not scale efficiently and is not the most reliable or cost-effective method for large-scale, ongoing data sync.

The option Leverage AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) to move the files between the NFS locations is incorrect because DMS is designed to migrate structured data between databases, not unstructured file system data. It doesnt support file-level NFS-to-NFS transfers and is not a fit for this use case.

This question is important because it evaluates the ability to select the right AWS tool for file-based data synchronization between Regions. It also highlights the distinction between solutions for structured data, file data, and bulk transfer mechanisms. A helpful tip is to associate AWS DataSync with file systems, especially NFS and SMB, and think of it as the go-to for automated, scheduled transfers with minimal overhead.

What makes this question tricky is the realistic-sounding alternatives like Snowball and DMS, which are often used for migrations. Understanding their limitations and intended use cases is key to identifying the best-fit solution under the constraints of automation and operational efficiency.

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