Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
fio benchmark from the current volume: - 4 KiB random read IOPS target: 22,000 - 4 KiB random write IOPS target: 18,000 - 99th percentile latency target: < 2 ms - Current volume: gp3, 12,000 provisioned IOPS - Observed latency during peak: 3.8-5.4 ms - Data must remain attached to one EC2 instance and persist after stop/start
Based on the exhibit, a media rendering job runs on a single EC2 instance and writes a large working set of metadata to block storage. The workload performs sustained random reads and writes and must keep latency consistently low for the entire run. The instance may be stopped and started between jobs, and the data must persist. Which storage choice best meets the requirements?
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
Distractor review
Amazon S3 with multipart uploads because it provides durable object storage and high throughput.
S3 is object storage, not block storage, and it cannot serve the low-latency random I/O pattern shown in the benchmark.
B
Distractor review
Amazon EFS because it can be mounted by EC2 and supports persistent file access.
EFS is shared file storage, but it generally has higher latency than provisioned block storage for this single-instance random I/O workload.
C
Best answer
Provisioned IOPS SSD EBS volume (io2).
io2 is designed for sustained high IOPS with low and consistent latency on EC2 block storage. The workload is single-instance, random I/O intensive, and needs persistence across stop/start, which matches EBS block storage behavior well.
D
Distractor review
Amazon FSx for Windows File Server because it offers durable storage and low latency.
FSx for Windows File Server is a managed file system for Windows-based use cases, not the best fit for a single Linux EC2 block-storage workload.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAA-C03 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Provisioned IOPS SSD EBS volume (io2). — The exhibit shows a block-storage workload that needs much higher sustained random IOPS and lower latency than gp3 is delivering. Because the data must stay attached to one EC2 instance and persist across stop/start cycles, Amazon EBS is the correct storage class. Among EBS options, io2 is the best fit for consistently high random IOPS and predictable low latency. S3 and EFS are the wrong storage models for this benchmark profile. S3 is durable, but it is object storage and does not support the needed random block I/O latency. EFS is a shared file system and is usually not the first choice for a single-instance, latency-sensitive block workload. FSx for Windows File Server is also a file service and is not the best match for a Linux EC2 instance that needs sustained random block IOPS.
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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