- A
Keep Authorization in the CloudFront cache key, but increase the origin response minimum TTL to 1 day.
Why wrong: A longer TTL can reduce some re-fetches, but varying the cache key by Authorization still creates separate cache entries for different Authorization values. That fragmentation remains the primary driver of a low hit ratio, and time-to-live settings do not change cache-key uniqueness.
- B
Modify the CloudFront cache policy so the cache key does not include the Authorization header.
CloudFront cache hit ratio depends on what constitutes a unique cache key. If Authorization is included, identical public assets requested with different Authorization values will map to different cache objects and reduce reuse. Removing Authorization from the cache key makes those requests share the same edge cache entry, improving hit ratio and reducing origin traffic. Because the scenario states the assets are public, removing Authorization from the cache key does not break access controls (access is not controlled by Authorization at the origin).
- C
Switch the S3 origin from the current bucket to a website endpoint to enable automatic caching headers.
Why wrong: Changing the origin type (REST endpoint vs website endpoint) does not remove cache-key variation caused by the Authorization header. CloudFront cache-key behavior is controlled by CloudFront cache policy/origin request policy, not by the origin endpoint type. This change also can introduce additional differences in behavior and error handling.
- D
Enable CloudFront to forward all headers to S3 so origin can decide caching behavior per request.
Why wrong: Forwarding all headers typically reduces caching effectiveness because many header values vary per request, leading to more unique combinations and more cache misses. In this scenario, the key issue is cache-key configuration that includes Authorization; forwarding headers does not fix the underlying cache fragmentation and can make cache reuse worse.
Quick Answer
The answer is to modify the CloudFront cache policy so the cache key does not include the Authorization header. This is correct because the low cache hit ratio stems from the cache key varying on the Authorization header, causing CloudFront to create separate cache entries for identical static assets even though they are publicly accessible. By excluding that header from the cache key, CloudFront treats all requests for the same asset as identical, dramatically improving the cache hit ratio without breaking access controls since the S3 origin already serves the assets publicly. On the SAA-C03 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how cache keys and cache policies directly impact performance, often hiding the trap that an Authorization header is unnecessary for public content. A common memory tip is "public assets, private headers? Exclude the header to avoid cache shredder."
SAA-C03 Design High-Performing Architectures Practice Question
This SAA-C03 practice question tests your understanding of design high-performing architectures. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 team serves static assets from an S3 origin through CloudFront. Cache hit ratio is low. Analytics show that requests include an Authorization header (even though the assets are public) and the cache key currently varies on that header, causing CloudFront to treat the same asset as different cache entries. What is the best change to improve cache hit ratio without breaking access controls?
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
Modify the CloudFront cache policy so the cache key does not include the Authorization header.
The low cache hit ratio is caused by the Authorization header being included in the CloudFront cache key, which creates separate cache entries for the same object even though the assets are public. By modifying the cache policy to exclude the Authorization header, CloudFront will treat all requests for the same asset as identical, dramatically improving the cache hit ratio without affecting access controls because the assets are already public.
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.
- ✗
Keep Authorization in the CloudFront cache key, but increase the origin response minimum TTL to 1 day.
Why it's wrong here
A longer TTL can reduce some re-fetches, but varying the cache key by Authorization still creates separate cache entries for different Authorization values. That fragmentation remains the primary driver of a low hit ratio, and time-to-live settings do not change cache-key uniqueness.
- ✓
Modify the CloudFront cache policy so the cache key does not include the Authorization header.
Why this is correct
CloudFront cache hit ratio depends on what constitutes a unique cache key. If Authorization is included, identical public assets requested with different Authorization values will map to different cache objects and reduce reuse. Removing Authorization from the cache key makes those requests share the same edge cache entry, improving hit ratio and reducing origin traffic. Because the scenario states the assets are public, removing Authorization from the cache key does not break access controls (access is not controlled by Authorization at the origin).
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Switch the S3 origin from the current bucket to a website endpoint to enable automatic caching headers.
Why it's wrong here
Changing the origin type (REST endpoint vs website endpoint) does not remove cache-key variation caused by the Authorization header. CloudFront cache-key behavior is controlled by CloudFront cache policy/origin request policy, not by the origin endpoint type. This change also can introduce additional differences in behavior and error handling.
- ✗
Enable CloudFront to forward all headers to S3 so origin can decide caching behavior per request.
Why it's wrong here
Forwarding all headers typically reduces caching effectiveness because many header values vary per request, leading to more unique combinations and more cache misses. In this scenario, the key issue is cache-key configuration that includes Authorization; forwarding headers does not fix the underlying cache fragmentation and can make cache reuse worse.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think increasing TTL or changing the origin type will fix caching, when the real issue is the cache key composition—specifically, the Authorization header fragmenting the cache.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Forwarding all headers typically reduces caching effectiveness because many header values vary per request, leading to more unique combinations and more cache misses. In this scenario, the key issue is cache-key configuration that includes Authorization; forwarding headers does not fix the underlying cache fragmentation and can make cache reuse worse.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CloudFront cache keys are defined by cache policies, which specify which headers, cookies, and query strings are included in the key. When the Authorization header is included, each unique header value (e.g., different tokens) creates a distinct cache entry, even for identical objects. Excluding the header from the cache key allows CloudFront to serve the same cached object to all users, while the header can still be forwarded to the origin if needed for authentication—though in this case the assets are public, so forwarding is unnecessary.
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: Modify the CloudFront cache policy so the cache key does not include the Authorization header. — The low cache hit ratio is caused by the Authorization header being included in the CloudFront cache key, which creates separate cache entries for the same object even though the assets are public. By modifying the cache policy to exclude the Authorization header, CloudFront will treat all requests for the same asset as identical, dramatically improving the cache hit ratio without affecting access controls because the assets are already public.
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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