Question 1mediummulti select
Full question →mediummulti selectObjective-mapped
A single EC2 instance hosts a low-latency database cache that writes a large random working set to block storage. The application needs sustained high IOPS and low latency, and the storage must remain attached to the instance while it runs. Which two design choices best meet the requirement? 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
Use an io2 Block Express EBS volume for the highest sustained IOPS and low-latency performance.
io2 Block Express is designed for demanding block-storage workloads that need very high, consistent IOPS with low latency. It is a strong fit when the data must remain on attached EBS storage rather than on ephemeral instance store.
B
Best answer
Stripe multiple EBS volumes together with RAID 0 to increase aggregate IOPS and throughput.
RAID 0 across EBS volumes is a standard way to scale performance when a single volume cannot meet the required IOPS or throughput. It improves aggregate performance, but the application must tolerate the fact that RAID 0 increases the failure domain.
C
Distractor review
Use an S3 bucket as the backing store because object storage scales automatically.
S3 is object storage, not block storage. It does not provide the low-latency random write behavior required by a database cache or similar block-based workload.
D
Distractor review
Choose a cold HDD-based volume so the cache has durable low-cost storage.
Cold HDD volumes are optimized for low cost, not for high IOPS or latency-sensitive random access. They are a poor fit for a cache or database-like workload.
E
Distractor review
Use the root volume from a T-series instance because burst credits can absorb the write spikes.
Burst credits do not provide the sustained, predictable IOPS needed for a latency-sensitive cache. T-series instances are designed for short CPU bursts, not for high-performance storage workloads.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A team needs to distribute TCP traffic (not HTTP) across multiple services. The services must see the original client source IP for auditing. Which AWS load balancer is the best fit?
Question 2
A team wants to run containerized services with AWS-managed orchestration and autoscaling. They do NOT require Kubernetes compatibility. Which AWS service choice is most appropriate to meet these goals?
Question 3
A solutions architect is designing an S3 bucket for a IoT ingestion API. The objects must never be publicly accessible, even if a developer later adds an overly broad bucket policy. What should the architect configure? The design must avoid adding custom operational scripts.
Question 4
A solutions architect is designing an S3 bucket for a claims portal. The objects must never be publicly accessible, even if a developer later adds an overly broad bucket policy. What should the architect configure?
Question 5
A team wants to delegate IAM management to developers, but must ensure developers can never grant themselves permissions beyond a specific limit. Which AWS mechanism best matches this requirement?
Question 6
A solutions architect is designing an S3 bucket for a healthcare document service. The objects must never be publicly accessible, even if a developer later adds an overly broad bucket policy. What should the architect configure?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAA-C03 question test?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use an io2 Block Express EBS volume for the highest sustained IOPS and low-latency performance. — The workload needs attached block storage with sustained, low-latency random I/O. io2 Block Express is purpose-built for very high, consistent IOPS and low latency on EBS, and RAID 0 can further increase aggregate performance when one volume is not enough. These are the two design choices that most directly satisfy the performance requirement while keeping the data on attached block storage. S3 cannot behave like a low-latency block device, so it is not suitable for this cache pattern. Cold HDD storage is cost-oriented and far too slow for the described workload. Burstable instance credits do not solve sustained IOPS demand, so they are not the right answer for a latency-sensitive storage problem.
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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