Question 1easymultiple choice
Full question →easymultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Exhibit
Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance identifier: orders-db Multi-AZ: false Automated backups: enabled Availability Zone: us-east-1b Publicly accessible: no
Based on the exhibit, the database must continue serving if the current Availability Zone fails. What should you change?
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
Create a read replica in another Availability Zone and promote it manually if needed.
A read replica can help with read scaling or disaster recovery, but manual promotion is not the same as automatic failover. It adds operational delay.
B
Best answer
Modify the DB instance to use a Multi-AZ deployment.
A Multi-AZ RDS deployment provides synchronous standby replication in another Availability Zone and automatic failover if the primary AZ becomes unavailable. This directly matches the requirement to keep the database serving after an AZ failure. It is the simplest resilient design change when the application needs high availability rather than just backups.
C
Distractor review
Increase the automated backup retention period to 30 days.
Longer backup retention helps with recovery from deletion or corruption, but it does not keep the database online during an Availability Zone failure. Backups are not failover.
D
Distractor review
Resize the DB instance to a larger class.
A larger instance may improve performance, but it does not protect against the loss of the Availability Zone. The same single point of failure would remain.
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: Modify the DB instance to use a Multi-AZ deployment. — The exhibit shows an RDS PostgreSQL instance running with Multi-AZ set to false. That means the database depends on a single Availability Zone. Enabling Multi-AZ creates a standby in another AZ and lets RDS perform automatic failover if the primary zone fails. For an easy high-availability requirement, this is the correct and direct resilience improvement. Why others are wrong: A read replica is useful for scaling reads, but failover is not automatic unless you design for it explicitly. Backup retention helps with restore operations, not live availability. Resizing the instance may improve capacity, but it does nothing to remove the single-AZ failure risk.
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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