- A
Use an AWS Auto Scaling group with scheduled scaling policies that add instances during known peak hours and remove them during off-peak hours.
Why wrong: Scheduled scaling does not handle unexpected spikes.
- B
Implement Amazon Route 53 weighted routing policies to distribute traffic to multiple ALBs, each fronting a fixed set of EC2 instances.
Why wrong: This does not automatically adjust capacity.
- C
Use an AWS Auto Scaling group with simple scaling policies based on CPU utilization and attach it to the ALB target group.
Why wrong: Simple scaling is not reactive enough for sudden spikes; target tracking is better.
- D
Use an AWS Auto Scaling group with target tracking scaling policies based on the ALB's request count per target, and attach it to the ALB target group.
This dynamically adjusts capacity based on actual load.
Quick Answer
The answer is to use an AWS Auto Scaling group with target tracking scaling policies based on the ALB’s request count per target. This is correct because target tracking scaling automatically adjusts the desired capacity to keep the selected metric—in this case, the average number of requests each EC2 instance receives—at a predefined target value. When request counts spike, the Auto Scaling group launches new instances to absorb the load and reduce latency; during off-peak hours, it terminates instances to cut costs. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of dynamic scaling policies versus simple or step scaling, and a common trap is choosing a CPU-based metric instead of a load-specific one like request count per target. Remember: for ALB-driven apps, always scale on what the instances actually serve—requests per target, not CPU. Memory tip: “Target the target” to recall that target tracking uses the ALB target group’s request count per target.
DOP-C02 Resilient Cloud Solutions Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of resilient cloud solutions. 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 critical web application on Amazon EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer (ALB). The application frequently experiences high latency during peak hours. The DevOps team needs to implement a solution that automatically adds capacity based on demand and reduces cost during off-peak hours. Which combination of AWS services should the team 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
Use an AWS Auto Scaling group with target tracking scaling policies based on the ALB's request count per target, and attach it to the ALB target group.
Option D is correct because target tracking scaling policies allow the Auto Scaling group to automatically adjust capacity based on a specific metric, such as ALB request count per target, which directly reflects the load on each instance. This ensures that capacity is added during high latency periods and removed during off-peak hours, optimizing both performance and cost. The ALB target group integration ensures that new instances are automatically registered and start receiving traffic.
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.
- ✗
Use an AWS Auto Scaling group with scheduled scaling policies that add instances during known peak hours and remove them during off-peak hours.
Why it's wrong here
Scheduled scaling does not handle unexpected spikes.
- ✗
Implement Amazon Route 53 weighted routing policies to distribute traffic to multiple ALBs, each fronting a fixed set of EC2 instances.
Why it's wrong here
This does not automatically adjust capacity.
- ✗
Use an AWS Auto Scaling group with simple scaling policies based on CPU utilization and attach it to the ALB target group.
Why it's wrong here
Simple scaling is not reactive enough for sudden spikes; target tracking is better.
- ✓
Use an AWS Auto Scaling group with target tracking scaling policies based on the ALB's request count per target, and attach it to the ALB target group.
Why this is correct
This dynamically adjusts capacity based on actual load.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose scheduled scaling (Option A) because it seems straightforward for known peak hours, but they overlook the requirement to handle unpredictable high latency during peak hours, which demands a dynamic, metric-based scaling solution like target tracking.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Target tracking scaling policies use a mathematical model to maintain the specified metric (e.g., ALB request count per target) near a target value, automatically adjusting the desired capacity without requiring manual threshold definitions. Under the hood, AWS CloudWatch alarms are created and managed by the Auto Scaling group, and the scaling actions are executed based on the metric's deviation from the target. In a real-world scenario, if the application experiences a flash crowd, the target tracking policy can scale out faster than simple scaling because it continuously evaluates the metric and adjusts capacity proactively.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DOP-C02 question test?
Resilient Cloud Solutions — This question tests Resilient Cloud Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use an AWS Auto Scaling group with target tracking scaling policies based on the ALB's request count per target, and attach it to the ALB target group. — Option D is correct because target tracking scaling policies allow the Auto Scaling group to automatically adjust capacity based on a specific metric, such as ALB request count per target, which directly reflects the load on each instance. This ensures that capacity is added during high latency periods and removed during off-peak hours, optimizing both performance and cost. The ALB target group integration ensures that new instances are automatically registered and start receiving traffic.
What should I do if I get this DOP-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 24, 2026
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