- A
Use a scheduled scaling policy for the predictable spikes and a step scaling policy for CPU utilization.
Combines proactive and reactive scaling for maximum resilience.
- B
Use predictive scaling based on historical traffic patterns.
Why wrong: Predictive scaling requires sufficient historical data and may not handle new patterns.
- C
Use manual scaling by increasing the desired capacity before expected spikes.
Why wrong: Manual scaling is not automated and may not respond to unexpected spikes.
- D
Use a target tracking scaling policy based on average CPU utilization.
Why wrong: Target tracking alone may not respond quickly enough to sudden spikes.
Question 137 of 1,750
Combined Scheduling and Step Scaling for Traffic Spikes
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 AWS using an Application Load Balancer (ALB) in front of an Auto Scaling group of EC2 instances. The application experiences periodic traffic spikes. To handle these spikes, the company wants to use a combination of proactive scaling based on a predictable schedule and reactive scaling based on CPU utilization. What is the MOST resilient scaling strategy?
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 a scheduled scaling policy for the predictable spikes and a step scaling policy for CPU utilization.
Option A is correct because it combines scheduled scaling for predictable traffic spikes with step scaling for reactive adjustments based on CPU utilization, providing both proactive and reactive resilience. Scheduled scaling adjusts capacity in advance of known events, while step scaling allows for larger, more aggressive adjustments when CPU utilization exceeds thresholds, avoiding the slower, linear response of target tracking. This dual approach ensures the application can handle spikes without over-provisioning or under-provisioning.
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 a scheduled scaling policy for the predictable spikes and a step scaling policy for CPU utilization.
Why this is correct
Combines proactive and reactive scaling for maximum resilience.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use predictive scaling based on historical traffic patterns.
Why it's wrong here
Predictive scaling requires sufficient historical data and may not handle new patterns.
- ✗
Use manual scaling by increasing the desired capacity before expected spikes.
Why it's wrong here
Manual scaling is not automated and may not respond to unexpected spikes.
- ✗
Use a target tracking scaling policy based on average CPU utilization.
Why it's wrong here
Target tracking alone may not respond quickly enough to sudden spikes.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume predictive scaling (Option B) is the best for all predictable patterns, but it fails for non-recurring or sudden spikes, and they overlook that target tracking (Option D) cannot proactively add capacity before a spike begins.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Step scaling policies in AWS Auto Scaling allow you to define multiple step adjustments based on the magnitude of the alarm breach, enabling faster, more aggressive scaling for high CPU utilization (e.g., adding 4 instances when CPU > 80%) compared to target tracking's gradual adjustments. Scheduled scaling uses cron-like expressions to set desired capacity at specific times, ensuring capacity is ready before traffic arrives. Combining both requires careful cooldown and warm-up configuration to avoid conflicts, such as using a higher cooldown for step scaling to prevent oscillation during scheduled events.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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 a scheduled scaling policy for the predictable spikes and a step scaling policy for CPU utilization. — Option A is correct because it combines scheduled scaling for predictable traffic spikes with step scaling for reactive adjustments based on CPU utilization, providing both proactive and reactive resilience. Scheduled scaling adjusts capacity in advance of known events, while step scaling allows for larger, more aggressive adjustments when CPU utilization exceeds thresholds, avoiding the slower, linear response of target tracking. This dual approach ensures the application can handle spikes without over-provisioning or under-provisioning.
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: Jul 4, 2026
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