Question 1mediummulti select
Full question →mediummulti selectObjective-mapped
A line-of-business application runs on EC2 instances 24/7 with predictable usage for the next year. The application will stay in the same Region, and the team does not want to manage capacity interruptions. Which two purchase options can reduce cost compared with pure On-Demand pricing? Select two.
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
Best answer
Buy Compute Savings Plans for the expected steady usage.
Compute Savings Plans reduce the hourly cost of predictable usage while preserving flexibility across supported compute services. They are a strong fit when the workload is steady and the team wants savings without interruption risk.
B
Best answer
Purchase Standard Reserved Instances for the EC2 fleet.
Standard Reserved Instances are designed for steady EC2 usage in a specific Region and can significantly lower the effective hourly rate versus On-Demand. They align well with a one-year predictable workload that must remain continuously available.
C
Distractor review
Move the fleet to Spot Instances.
Spot Instances can be much cheaper, but they may be interrupted when spare capacity is reclaimed. That directly conflicts with the requirement to avoid capacity interruptions for a continuously running application.
D
Distractor review
Use Dedicated Hosts to reserve physical servers for the application.
Dedicated Hosts are typically chosen for licensing or isolation requirements, not for the lowest general-purpose compute price. They usually cost more than commitment-based pricing options for a normal steady-state workload.
E
Distractor review
Stay entirely on On-Demand Instances because they are already the cheapest option.
On-Demand provides the highest flexibility, but it is not the lowest-cost model for predictable 24/7 usage. The scenario explicitly calls for reducing cost, which requires a commitment-based discount.
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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Question 2
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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: Buy Compute Savings Plans for the expected steady usage. — For a steady 24/7 EC2 workload, commitment-based pricing is the right way to lower cost. Compute Savings Plans and Standard Reserved Instances both reduce the effective hourly rate compared with On-Demand while preserving continuous capacity. Because the workload is predictable and cannot tolerate interruption risk, these options match both the operational and financial requirements. Why others are wrong: Spot Instances are cheaper but unsuitable when interruptions are unacceptable. Dedicated Hosts are generally selected for licensing or isolation, not for the lowest price. On-Demand is flexible, but it does not provide the discount needed for a stable year-long workload.
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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