- A
Increase the origin response Cache-Control max-age header on S3 so CloudFront caches longer even with different rnd values.
Why wrong: Increasing TTL affects how long each cached object remains, but it does not change how CloudFront partitions the cache. If rnd is part of the cache key, you will still generate a distinct cache entry per rnd value, keeping hit ratio low regardless of TTL.
- B
Create a custom CloudFront Cache Policy that does not include the rnd query parameter in the cache key (whitelist only required parameters, or forward no query strings).
CloudFront caching effectiveness depends on the cache key. Since rnd does not change the content returned by the S3 origin, excluding rnd from the cache key allows many requests for the “same” asset to map to the same cached object. This removes cache fragmentation and restores a higher hit ratio without changing application content correctness.
- C
Disable compression on CloudFront so the response body is identical byte-for-byte and cache hits improve.
Why wrong: Compression settings affect how the response is transferred and can change which variants are stored, but they do not address the primary driver of low hit ratio here: different cache keys caused by varying query parameters. If rnd remains in the cache key, cache misses will persist.
- D
Switch the origin from S3 to an ALB so CloudFront can cache based on ALB target health checks instead of the query string.
Why wrong: CloudFront cache keys are determined by the Cache Policy (headers/query strings/cookies, etc.), not by the origin type or target health checks. Changing the origin to an ALB adds complexity and does not fix cache fragmentation caused by rnd being included in the cache key.
Quick Answer
The answer is to create a custom CloudFront Cache Policy that excludes the `rnd` query parameter from the cache key. This is correct because CloudFront treats each unique query string as a separate cached object, so the random `rnd` value appended to every request causes a 100% cache miss rate, even though the underlying static assets from S3 are identical. On the SAA-C03 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of cache keys and how query parameters affect cache hit ratios—a common trap is assuming that forwarding all query strings is harmless, when in fact it destroys caching for dynamic parameters like timestamps or random numbers. The key insight is that only parameters that change the origin content should be part of the cache key; everything else should be ignored. Memory tip: "If the parameter doesn't change the response, don't let it change the cache key."
SAA-C03 Design High-Performing Architectures Practice Question
This SAA-C03 practice question tests your understanding of design high-performing architectures. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 site serves static assets (JS/CSS) through CloudFront from an S3 origin. After a recent frontend change, CloudFront shows a cache hit ratio below 20%. In CloudFront access logs, requests to the same asset URL path differ by a query parameter named rnd (a random value appended by the app on every request). The origin content is identical regardless of rnd. What is the best CloudFront configuration change to restore effective caching?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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 CloudFront Cache Policy that does not include the rnd query parameter in the cache key (whitelist only required parameters, or forward no query strings).
The rnd query parameter makes each request appear unique to CloudFront, causing a cache miss for every request even though the underlying content is identical. By creating a custom cache policy that either forwards no query strings or whitelists only required parameters, CloudFront will ignore the rnd parameter when computing the cache key, allowing it to serve cached responses and dramatically improve the cache hit ratio.
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.
- ✗
Increase the origin response Cache-Control max-age header on S3 so CloudFront caches longer even with different rnd values.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing TTL affects how long each cached object remains, but it does not change how CloudFront partitions the cache. If rnd is part of the cache key, you will still generate a distinct cache entry per rnd value, keeping hit ratio low regardless of TTL.
- ✓
Create a custom CloudFront Cache Policy that does not include the rnd query parameter in the cache key (whitelist only required parameters, or forward no query strings).
Why this is correct
CloudFront caching effectiveness depends on the cache key. Since rnd does not change the content returned by the S3 origin, excluding rnd from the cache key allows many requests for the “same” asset to map to the same cached object. This removes cache fragmentation and restores a higher hit ratio without changing application content correctness.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Disable compression on CloudFront so the response body is identical byte-for-byte and cache hits improve.
Why it's wrong here
Compression settings affect how the response is transferred and can change which variants are stored, but they do not address the primary driver of low hit ratio here: different cache keys caused by varying query parameters. If rnd remains in the cache key, cache misses will persist.
- ✗
Switch the origin from S3 to an ALB so CloudFront can cache based on ALB target health checks instead of the query string.
Why it's wrong here
CloudFront cache keys are determined by the Cache Policy (headers/query strings/cookies, etc.), not by the origin type or target health checks. Changing the origin to an ALB adds complexity and does not fix cache fragmentation caused by rnd being included in the cache key.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think increasing cache duration (Option A) or disabling compression (Option C) will fix cache misses, when the real issue is that the query parameter is being included in the cache key, making every request unique.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CloudFront's default cache key includes all query parameters unless a custom cache policy or legacy cache behavior is configured to ignore or whitelist specific parameters. When a query parameter like rnd is included in the cache key, CloudFront treats each unique query string as a separate object, even if the origin returns identical content. A custom cache policy that sets 'Query String Forwarding' to 'None' (or whitelists only needed parameters) ensures that all requests to the same path are collapsed into a single cache entry, restoring high cache hit ratios.
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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 CloudFront Cache Policy that does not include the rnd query parameter in the cache key (whitelist only required parameters, or forward no query strings). — The rnd query parameter makes each request appear unique to CloudFront, causing a cache miss for every request even though the underlying content is identical. By creating a custom cache policy that either forwards no query strings or whitelists only required parameters, CloudFront will ignore the rnd parameter when computing the cache key, allowing it to serve cached responses and dramatically improve the cache hit ratio.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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