- A
Configure a CloudFront cache policy (or update HTTP cache-control headers) to increase TTLs for versioned static assets and enable compression for text assets.
CloudFront cache hit ratio improves when objects are cacheable for longer and requests can be served from edge caches. Proper TTLs for versioned assets prevent unnecessary revalidation. Compression reduces payload size for eligible content types, lowering transfer costs.
- B
Disable CloudFront access logging so fewer requests are recorded and billing decreases automatically.
Why wrong: Disabling logging may reduce logging cost, but it does not affect cache hit ratio or origin request volume. The billing issue is primarily tied to data transfer and origin requests, not the logging configuration.
- C
Set the distribution’s origin to use S3 Transfer Acceleration to reduce the number of requests hitting S3.
Why wrong: Transfer Acceleration affects how data is delivered to S3 when accessed, but it doesn’t change whether CloudFront caches objects. If cache hit ratio is low due to TTL or cacheability headers, origin request volume remains high.
- D
Force CloudFront to forward query strings to the origin for all static content so the latest versions are always fetched.
Why wrong: Forwarding query strings typically increases cache fragmentation because each query string value can create a separate cache key. This often reduces cache hit ratio and increases origin load, worsening cost.
SAA-C03 Design Cost-Optimized Architectures Practice Question
This SAA-C03 practice question tests your understanding of design cost-optimized architectures. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 content (JavaScript, CSS, images) from S3 through CloudFront. After a recent release, CloudFront reports a low cache hit ratio and the S3 origin receives a much higher request rate. The site still works, but billing shows higher origin and data transfer costs. Which change is most likely to improve cache hit ratio and reduce origin load?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
Configure a CloudFront cache policy (or update HTTP cache-control headers) to increase TTLs for versioned static assets and enable compression for text assets.
Option A is correct because increasing TTLs for versioned static assets via a CloudFront cache policy or HTTP Cache-Control headers ensures that CloudFront caches these immutable objects for longer periods, reducing the number of requests forwarded to the S3 origin. Enabling compression for text assets reduces the data transferred from origin to edge, further lowering origin load and costs. This directly addresses the low cache hit ratio and high origin request rate described in the scenario.
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.
- ✓
Configure a CloudFront cache policy (or update HTTP cache-control headers) to increase TTLs for versioned static assets and enable compression for text assets.
Why this is correct
CloudFront cache hit ratio improves when objects are cacheable for longer and requests can be served from edge caches. Proper TTLs for versioned assets prevent unnecessary revalidation. Compression reduces payload size for eligible content types, lowering transfer costs.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Disable CloudFront access logging so fewer requests are recorded and billing decreases automatically.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling logging may reduce logging cost, but it does not affect cache hit ratio or origin request volume. The billing issue is primarily tied to data transfer and origin requests, not the logging configuration.
- ✗
Set the distribution’s origin to use S3 Transfer Acceleration to reduce the number of requests hitting S3.
Why it's wrong here
Transfer Acceleration affects how data is delivered to S3 when accessed, but it doesn’t change whether CloudFront caches objects. If cache hit ratio is low due to TTL or cacheability headers, origin request volume remains high.
- ✗
Force CloudFront to forward query strings to the origin for all static content so the latest versions are always fetched.
Why it's wrong here
Forwarding query strings typically increases cache fragmentation because each query string value can create a separate cache key. This often reduces cache hit ratio and increases origin load, worsening cost.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think forwarding query strings (Option D) ensures freshness, but it actually destroys cacheability for static assets, while the real solution is to use versioned filenames and increase TTLs to maximize edge caching.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CloudFront cache behavior relies on cache keys derived from request attributes (e.g., URL path, query strings, headers). For versioned static assets (e.g., style.v2.css), the filename itself acts as a cache buster, so a long TTL (e.g., 1 year) is safe and efficient. The Cache-Control: max-age=31536000 header tells CloudFront and browsers to cache the object for that duration, while the s-maxage directive specifically controls edge caching. Enabling compression (e.g., via CloudFront's 'Compress objects automatically' option or origin's Content-Encoding header) reduces transfer size by up to 60% for text assets, lowering data transfer costs from both CloudFront and S3.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Design Cost-Optimized Architectures — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Design Cost-Optimized Architectures practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SAA-C03 questions
1,040 questions across all exam domains
- →
SAA-C03 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SAA-C03 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SAA-C03 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Design Secure Architectures practice questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to Design Secure Architectures.
Design Resilient Architectures practice questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to Design Resilient Architectures.
Design High-Performing Architectures practice questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to Design High-Performing Architectures.
Design Cost-Optimized Architectures practice questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to Design Cost-Optimized Architectures.
SAA-C03 VPC practice questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 VPC.
SAA-C03 S3 lifecycle policy questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 S3 lifecycle policy questions.
SAA-C03 RDS Multi-AZ questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 RDS Multi-AZ questions.
SAA-C03 IAM policy practice questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 IAM policy.
SAA-C03 Route 53 failover questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 Route 53 failover questions.
SAA-C03 CloudFront practice questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 CloudFront.
SAA-C03 NAT gateway questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 NAT gateway questions.
SAA-C03 VPC endpoint questions
Practise SAA-C03 questions linked to SAA-C03 VPC endpoint questions.
Practice this exam
Start a free SAA-C03 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAA-C03 question test?
Design Cost-Optimized Architectures — This question tests Design Cost-Optimized Architectures — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure a CloudFront cache policy (or update HTTP cache-control headers) to increase TTLs for versioned static assets and enable compression for text assets. — Option A is correct because increasing TTLs for versioned static assets via a CloudFront cache policy or HTTP Cache-Control headers ensures that CloudFront caches these immutable objects for longer periods, reducing the number of requests forwarded to the S3 origin. Enabling compression for text assets reduces the data transferred from origin to edge, further lowering origin load and costs. This directly addresses the low cache hit ratio and high origin request rate described in the scenario.
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This SAA-C03 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SAA-C03 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.