- A
Amazon CloudFront
Why wrong: Amazon CloudFront is a content delivery network (CDN) that caches static and dynamic web content at edge locations. It can accelerate delivery of web pages and media files, but it cannot be used as an in-memory data cache for database query results that are generated by the backend application. CloudFront does not integrate directly with RDS and requires the application to set Cache-Control headers; it does not provide a transparent caching layer for database reads.
- B
Amazon ElastiCache
Amazon ElastiCache is a fully managed, in-memory caching service that supports Memcached and Redis. It can be used to cache the results of frequently executed database queries, reducing the load on the RDS instance and improving application latency. The application can be configured to check the cache first before querying the database, which does not require modifying the core application logic if designed appropriately. This is the correct solution for offloading read traffic from the database.
- C
Amazon DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX)
Why wrong: Amazon DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) is an in-memory cache specifically designed for Amazon DynamoDB. It cannot be used to cache data from an Amazon RDS database. DAX only works with tables in DynamoDB and does not support caching relational database queries.
- D
Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS)
Why wrong: Amazon SQS is a fully managed message queuing service used to decouple and buffer requests between application components. It does not provide in-memory caching capabilities and will not reduce the read load on a database. Using SQS would change the architecture to asynchronous processing, not improve read performance.
Quick Answer
The answer is Amazon ElastiCache, the fully managed in-memory caching service that directly addresses the need to reduce database load for repeated read queries. By storing frequently accessed product catalog data in a low-latency cache like Redis or Memcached, ElastiCache allows the application to retrieve the same information from memory instead of hitting the Amazon RDS database hundreds of times per second, which cuts CPU utilization and improves response times without any application code changes or added database capacity. On the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner CLF-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of when to use caching to offload read-heavy workloads from a database, and a common trap is confusing ElastiCache with a database replacement like DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) or a content delivery service like CloudFront. Remember the memory tip: if the problem is repeated reads of the same data and you need a fully managed, in-memory cache, think "ElastiCache for the cache."
CLF-C02 Cloud Technology and Services Practice Question
This CLF-C02 practice question tests your understanding of cloud technology and services. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company runs a read-heavy web application that retrieves the same product catalog data from an Amazon RDS database hundreds of times per second. The database is experiencing high CPU utilization due to repeated reads of the same information. The company wants to reduce the load on the database and improve application response time without modifying the application code or adding more database capacity. The solution must be fully managed and provide a low-latency, in-memory cache for frequently accessed data. Which AWS service should the company use?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Amazon ElastiCache
Amazon ElastiCache is the correct choice because it provides a fully managed, in-memory caching service (Memcached or Redis) that can store frequently accessed product catalog data. By caching the results of repeated read queries, ElastiCache offloads the RDS database, reducing CPU utilization and improving response times without requiring application code changes or additional database capacity.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Amazon CloudFront
Why it's wrong here
Amazon CloudFront is a content delivery network (CDN) that caches static and dynamic web content at edge locations. It can accelerate delivery of web pages and media files, but it cannot be used as an in-memory data cache for database query results that are generated by the backend application. CloudFront does not integrate directly with RDS and requires the application to set Cache-Control headers; it does not provide a transparent caching layer for database reads.
- ✓
Amazon ElastiCache
Why this is correct
Amazon ElastiCache is a fully managed, in-memory caching service that supports Memcached and Redis. It can be used to cache the results of frequently executed database queries, reducing the load on the RDS instance and improving application latency. The application can be configured to check the cache first before querying the database, which does not require modifying the core application logic if designed appropriately. This is the correct solution for offloading read traffic from the database.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Amazon DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX)
Why it's wrong here
Amazon DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) is an in-memory cache specifically designed for Amazon DynamoDB. It cannot be used to cache data from an Amazon RDS database. DAX only works with tables in DynamoDB and does not support caching relational database queries.
- ✗
Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS)
Why it's wrong here
Amazon SQS is a fully managed message queuing service used to decouple and buffer requests between application components. It does not provide in-memory caching capabilities and will not reduce the read load on a database. Using SQS would change the architecture to asynchronous processing, not improve read performance.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse DAX (a DynamoDB-specific cache) with a general-purpose cache for RDS, or assume CloudFront can serve as an application-level cache for database queries, when in fact ElastiCache is the only fully managed, in-memory caching service that works with RDS without code changes.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ElastiCache supports Redis and Memcached engines; Redis offers advanced data structures (e.g., sorted sets, hashes) and persistence options, making it ideal for caching complex query results like product catalogs. Under the hood, ElastiCache uses a distributed architecture with automatic failover and replication, ensuring high availability and sub-millisecond latency for cached data. In a real-world scenario, a read-heavy e-commerce site can reduce RDS load by over 90% by caching product details in ElastiCache, with cache hit ratios often exceeding 80% for frequently accessed items.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CLF-C02 question test?
Cloud Technology and Services — This question tests Cloud Technology and Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Amazon ElastiCache — Amazon ElastiCache is the correct choice because it provides a fully managed, in-memory caching service (Memcached or Redis) that can store frequently accessed product catalog data. By caching the results of repeated read queries, ElastiCache offloads the RDS database, reducing CPU utilization and improving response times without requiring application code changes or additional database capacity.
What should I do if I get this CLF-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This CLF-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CLF-C02 exam.
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