Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A batch-processing system runs only during business hours (08:00–18:00 UTC). The jobs are restartable, and the architecture can tolerate occasional interruptions. Which approach minimizes cost while meeting the business-hours constraint?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Use only On-Demand instances during business hours and scale to zero outside those hours.
Scaling down outside business hours helps, but On-Demand is typically more expensive than Spot for interruption-tolerant batch workloads.
B
Best answer
Use Spot Instances for the batch workload during business hours and scale the capacity down to zero outside that window.
Spot is appropriate because the workload is restartable and can tolerate interruptions. Scaling to zero outside business hours prevents paying for unused capacity when jobs are not running.
C
Distractor review
Purchase a 3-year Reserved Instance and keep the workload running 24/7 to use the commitment fully.
A Reserved Instance commitment is most cost-effective when utilization is consistently high. Running 24/7 would violate the stated business-hours constraint and would likely increase overall cost due to paying for idle capacity.
D
Distractor review
Purchase Reserved Instances and disable scaling so the fleet stays within the commitment regardless of job demand.
Disabling scaling increases the risk of either overprovisioning (wasted reserved capacity) or underutilization if demand is lower. The workload being restartable and time-bounded is better matched with Spot plus time-based scaling.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAA-C03 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Spot Instances for the batch workload during business hours and scale the capacity down to zero outside that window. — Use Spot Instances during business hours and scale the compute down to zero outside the run window. Spot is the best fit when workloads are interruption-tolerant and restartable, because you accept interruptions and resume from checkpoints or retry logic. Scaling to zero outside 08:00–18:00 UTC ensures you only pay for compute when jobs are actually running, avoiding unnecessary spend. On-Demand instances during the run window ignore the opportunity for deeper Spot discounts. Committing to a long-term Reserved Instance and running 24/7 conflicts with the business-hours requirement and can force expensive overuse. Disabling scaling prevents the system from matching capacity to job demand and can increase waste.
What should I do if I get this SAA-C03 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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