- A
Create a custom cache policy that excludes the Authorization header and the per-user changing custom header from the cache key.
CloudFront cache keys determine how requests map to cached objects. If the response is identical regardless of certain headers, including those headers in the cache key causes cache fragmentation (many unique cache keys for what is effectively the same content). Excluding the Authorization header and the varying custom header from the cache key allows CloudFront to reuse cached responses across users, restoring hit rate and reducing origin fetches.
- B
Lower the TTL to a few seconds so cached objects expire sooner and origin fetches decrease.
Why wrong: Lowering TTL increases how frequently CloudFront has to revalidate or refetch content, which typically increases origin load and decreases cache hit rate.
- C
Disable caching for the affected paths so CloudFront always forwards all headers to the origin.
Why wrong: Disabling caching removes the benefit of the cache layer. That will almost certainly reduce cache hit rate to near zero and increase origin fetches.
- D
Force all requests to use query-string based caching and include all headers in the cache policy for correctness.
Why wrong: Including high-cardinality, per-user changing headers in the cache key preserves the cache fragmentation problem and keeps the hit rate low. Query-string caching does not address header-driven variability unless the cache key is explicitly designed to exclude the varying elements.
SAA-C03 Design High-Performing Architectures Practice Question
This SAA-C03 practice question tests your understanding of design high-performing architectures. 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 serves the same public content to many users through Amazon CloudFront. The origin is experiencing increased fetches because CloudFront cache hit rate is dropping. Most requests include an Authorization header and a custom header that changes per user. The response content is identical regardless of these headers. What change should the solutions architect make to restore a high cache hit rate?
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
Create a custom cache policy that excludes the Authorization header and the per-user changing custom header from the cache key.
Option A is correct because CloudFront's default cache key includes the Authorization header and all custom headers, which causes unique cache entries for each user even though the content is identical. By creating a custom cache policy that excludes these headers from the cache key, CloudFront will treat requests with different header values as the same cached object, restoring a high cache hit rate and reducing origin fetches.
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.
- ✓
Create a custom cache policy that excludes the Authorization header and the per-user changing custom header from the cache key.
Why this is correct
CloudFront cache keys determine how requests map to cached objects. If the response is identical regardless of certain headers, including those headers in the cache key causes cache fragmentation (many unique cache keys for what is effectively the same content). Excluding the Authorization header and the varying custom header from the cache key allows CloudFront to reuse cached responses across users, restoring hit rate and reducing origin fetches.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Lower the TTL to a few seconds so cached objects expire sooner and origin fetches decrease.
Why it's wrong here
Lowering TTL increases how frequently CloudFront has to revalidate or refetch content, which typically increases origin load and decreases cache hit rate.
- ✗
Disable caching for the affected paths so CloudFront always forwards all headers to the origin.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling caching removes the benefit of the cache layer. That will almost certainly reduce cache hit rate to near zero and increase origin fetches.
- ✗
Force all requests to use query-string based caching and include all headers in the cache policy for correctness.
Why it's wrong here
Including high-cardinality, per-user changing headers in the cache key preserves the cache fragmentation problem and keeps the hit rate low. Query-string caching does not address header-driven variability unless the cache key is explicitly designed to exclude the varying elements.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume the Authorization header must always be included in the cache key for security, but for public content, it can be safely excluded to improve cache efficiency without compromising access control.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CloudFront cache keys are composed of specified request attributes (headers, cookies, query strings) that determine whether a request is a cache hit or miss. By default, the Authorization header is included in the cache key, but a custom cache policy can explicitly exclude it, allowing CloudFront to serve the same cached object to all users regardless of their authentication state. This is particularly useful for public content where authentication headers are present but irrelevant to the response content.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAA-C03 question test?
Design High-Performing Architectures — This question tests Design High-Performing Architectures — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a custom cache policy that excludes the Authorization header and the per-user changing custom header from the cache key. — Option A is correct because CloudFront's default cache key includes the Authorization header and all custom headers, which causes unique cache entries for each user even though the content is identical. By creating a custom cache policy that excludes these headers from the cache key, CloudFront will treat requests with different header values as the same cached object, restoring a high cache hit rate and reducing origin fetches.
What should I do if I get this SAA-C03 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
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