Question 1hardmulti select
Full question →hardmulti selectObjective-mapped
A startup has an HTTP API with highly unpredictable traffic from mobile devices. Each request performs lightweight validation, writes an event record, and triggers downstream notifications. The current EC2 fleet stays mostly idle, and the team wants to reduce infrastructure management and pay only for usage. Which two changes best fit 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
Place Amazon API Gateway in front of AWS Lambda functions for request handling.
API Gateway plus Lambda fits spiky request traffic well because it removes server management and charges are based on actual use.
B
Distractor review
Keep the EC2 fleet and add more instances so the idle cost is less noticeable.
Adding more always-on servers increases idle spend and directly contradicts the goal of paying only for usage.
C
Best answer
Use Amazon SQS to buffer notification work and decouple it from the request path.
SQS absorbs bursts and separates the user-facing request from downstream processing, improving cost efficiency and operational resilience.
D
Distractor review
Move the API to an Application Load Balancer only, without changing compute.
An ALB can distribute traffic, but it does not remove the need to manage EC2 instances or eliminate idle capacity.
E
Distractor review
Store runtime secrets in user data on each instance.
This does not address variable traffic or cost optimization, and it creates a poor secret-handling pattern.
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: Place Amazon API Gateway in front of AWS Lambda functions for request handling. — API Gateway and Lambda are a strong fit for unpredictable, short-lived request processing because they remove server provisioning and scale automatically with demand. SQS adds decoupling for notification work so the request path stays lightweight while downstream processes can absorb bursts. This combination reduces idle EC2 cost and operational overhead while keeping the system responsive under changing traffic patterns. Why others are wrong: Keeping or expanding EC2 capacity leaves the team paying for idle servers. An ALB by itself is only a traffic distributor; it does not reduce compute management. Storing secrets in user data is a security anti-pattern and has nothing to do with workload elasticity or cost reduction.
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.
Discussion
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