- A
AWS Lambda
Why wrong: Incorrect. AWS Lambda has a maximum execution timeout of 15 minutes per invocation, so it cannot handle a 3-hour batch job. Additionally, Lambda is event-driven and designed for short-running functions, not long-running batch processing.
- B
AWS Batch
Correct. AWS Batch is a fully managed service that enables you to run batch computing workloads of any scale. It automatically provisions compute resources (e.g., Amazon EC2 instances or AWS Fargate), schedules jobs, and retries failed tasks. You only pay for the compute resources consumed, and there is no need to manage underlying servers.
- C
Amazon EC2
Why wrong: Incorrect. Running the job on Amazon EC2 would require you to launch and manage an instance, install the necessary software, and ensure the instance is running only during the job. You would need to start and stop the instance manually or set up automation. This approach incurs operational overhead and risk of paying for idle time if the instance is not terminated promptly.
- D
AWS Elastic Beanstalk
Why wrong: Incorrect. AWS Elastic Beanstalk is a platform-as-a-service (PaaS) used to deploy and scale web applications and services. It is not designed for running batch jobs. Elastic Beanstalk manages capacity provisioning, load balancing, and auto-scaling for web applications, but it does not provide job scheduling or retry logic needed for batch processing.
CLF-C02 Cloud Technology and Services Practice Question
This CLF-C02 practice question tests your understanding of cloud technology and services. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 data processing job once per month. The job takes approximately 3 hours to complete when run on a single server. The company wants to minimize operational overhead and pay only for the compute time used during the job. The job does not require user interaction and must be able to automatically retry if a task fails. Which AWS service should the company use?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
AWS Batch
AWS Batch is designed for batch computing workloads that run to completion without user interaction. It automatically provisions the necessary compute resources (e.g., EC2 instances or Fargate), scales them to zero when idle, and provides built-in retry logic for failed tasks. This matches the requirement of a monthly 3-hour job with minimal operational overhead and pay-per-use billing.
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.
- ✗
AWS Lambda
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. AWS Lambda has a maximum execution timeout of 15 minutes per invocation, so it cannot handle a 3-hour batch job. Additionally, Lambda is event-driven and designed for short-running functions, not long-running batch processing.
When this WOULD be correct
A company needs to run a short-duration data processing task (under 15 minutes) triggered by an S3 upload, with no server management and automatic retries on failure. Lambda would be the correct answer.
- ✓
AWS Batch
Why this is correct
Correct. AWS Batch is a fully managed service that enables you to run batch computing workloads of any scale. It automatically provisions compute resources (e.g., Amazon EC2 instances or AWS Fargate), schedules jobs, and retries failed tasks. You only pay for the compute resources consumed, and there is no need to manage underlying servers.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Amazon EC2
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Running the job on Amazon EC2 would require you to launch and manage an instance, install the necessary software, and ensure the instance is running only during the job. You would need to start and stop the instance manually or set up automation. This approach incurs operational overhead and risk of paying for idle time if the instance is not terminated promptly.
When this WOULD be correct
A company needs to run a custom, long-running application (e.g., a legacy monolithic app) that requires full control over the operating system and software configuration, and the job must run continuously or on a fixed schedule without needing automatic retries or batch orchestration.
- ✗
AWS Elastic Beanstalk
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. AWS Elastic Beanstalk is a platform-as-a-service (PaaS) used to deploy and scale web applications and services. It is not designed for running batch jobs. Elastic Beanstalk manages capacity provisioning, load balancing, and auto-scaling for web applications, but it does not provide job scheduling or retry logic needed for batch processing.
When this WOULD be correct
A company needs to deploy a web application with automatic scaling, load balancing, and health monitoring, and wants to minimize operational overhead without managing the underlying infrastructure. The application requires user interaction and runs continuously.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The CLF-C02 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓AWS BatchCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Correct. AWS Batch is a fully managed service that enables you to run batch computing workloads of any scale. It automatically provisions compute resources (e.g., Amazon EC2 instances or AWS Fargate), schedules jobs, and retries failed tasks. You only pay for the compute resources consumed, and there is no need to manage underlying servers.
✗AWS LambdaWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
AWS Lambda has a maximum execution timeout of 15 minutes, but the job takes 3 hours, so it cannot run on Lambda. Additionally, Lambda is not designed for long-running batch jobs.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A company needs to run a short-duration data processing task (under 15 minutes) triggered by an S3 upload, with no server management and automatic retries on failure. Lambda would be the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think Lambda is serverless and pay-per-use, which matches the cost and operational overhead requirements, but overlook the 15-minute timeout limit.
✗Amazon EC2Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Amazon EC2 requires manual provisioning, scaling, and management of servers, which increases operational overhead. It does not automatically retry failed tasks or provide a managed batch scheduling service, making it unsuitable for a monthly job that needs minimal overhead and automatic retries.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A company needs to run a custom, long-running application (e.g., a legacy monolithic app) that requires full control over the operating system and software configuration, and the job must run continuously or on a fixed schedule without needing automatic retries or batch orchestration.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think EC2 is the most flexible option for any compute job, overlooking the requirement for minimal operational overhead and automatic retries, which EC2 does not natively provide.
✗AWS Elastic BeanstalkWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
AWS Elastic Beanstalk is a PaaS service for deploying and scaling web applications, not designed for batch jobs that require automatic retries on failure. It abstracts infrastructure but does not natively support job scheduling, retry logic, or pay-per-compute-time for non-interactive workloads.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A company needs to deploy a web application with automatic scaling, load balancing, and health monitoring, and wants to minimize operational overhead without managing the underlying infrastructure. The application requires user interaction and runs continuously.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think Elastic Beanstalk reduces operational overhead and can run any workload, but they overlook that it is optimized for web apps, not batch processing with retry capabilities.
Analysis generated from the official CLF-C02blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose AWS Lambda for its serverless and pay-per-use model, overlooking the hard 15-minute execution limit that makes it unsuitable for long-running batch jobs.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS Batch uses a job queue and a compute environment to schedule and execute containerized batch jobs. It integrates with Amazon CloudWatch Events to trigger jobs on a schedule (e.g., monthly) and supports retry strategies via the `retryStrategy` parameter, which can specify the number of retries and the conditions (e.g., exit codes) that trigger them. Under the hood, AWS Batch can use either EC2 Spot Instances for cost savings or AWS Fargate for serverless compute, automatically scaling the environment to zero when no jobs are pending.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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: AWS Batch — AWS Batch is designed for batch computing workloads that run to completion without user interaction. It automatically provisions the necessary compute resources (e.g., EC2 instances or Fargate), scales them to zero when idle, and provides built-in retry logic for failed tasks. This matches the requirement of a monthly 3-hour job with minimal operational overhead and pay-per-use billing.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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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