Question 1hardmulti select
Full question →hardmulti selectObjective-mapped
A serverless checkout API runs on AWS Lambda behind API Gateway. Traffic spikes are predictable every weekday at 09:00 UTC, and p95 latency jumps for the first few minutes after each deployment because execution environments are cold. The team wants to reduce this startup impact without changing the API contract. Which changes should they make? Select three.
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
Configure provisioned concurrency on the production Lambda alias during the busy windows.
Correct. Provisioned concurrency keeps a pool of pre-initialized execution environments ready to handle invocations, which directly reduces cold-start latency. Using an alias allows the team to manage production traffic separately from development or canary versions and to schedule capacity for the predictable weekday peak.
B
Best answer
Initialize SDK clients and other reusable objects outside the handler so they are created once per execution environment.
Correct. Code that runs outside the handler executes during environment initialization and is then reused for subsequent invocations in the same execution environment. Reusing database clients, SDK clients, connection pools, and compiled configuration reduces per-invocation setup time and lowers the first-request penalty.
C
Best answer
Reduce the deployment package size and remove unnecessary layers to shorten function initialization.
Correct. Smaller packages and fewer dependencies generally reduce code download, unzip, and runtime initialization overhead. Trimming unused libraries and layers reduces the work required when Lambda creates a new execution environment after deployment or scale-out.
D
Distractor review
Replace provisioned concurrency with reserved concurrency because reserved concurrency keeps instances warm.
Incorrect. Reserved concurrency only sets an upper limit and optionally reserves capacity for a function; it does not pre-warm execution environments. Provisioned concurrency is the feature that initializes environments in advance to reduce cold starts.
E
Distractor review
Increase the function timeout so the first request has more time to warm up.
Incorrect. Timeout changes how long Lambda waits before it fails an invocation, but it does not reduce initialization time or improve the p95 latency experienced by the caller. The issue is startup overhead, not insufficient execution time.
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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Question 3
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Question 5
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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: Configure provisioned concurrency on the production Lambda alias during the busy windows. — The performance problem is cold-start latency, especially around deployment and predictable traffic ramps. Provisioned concurrency is the direct control for pre-initializing execution environments. Moving reusable initialization outside the handler and reducing package size further shorten startup time. These changes work together to lower the first-request penalty without changing the API contract. Reserved concurrency protects capacity but does not keep environments warm, and increasing timeout merely delays failure. Neither option addresses the core latency problem caused by environment initialization.
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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