- A
Configure CloudFront caching by setting appropriate cache-control headers and/or CloudFront cache policy/TTL values for the static objects
CloudFront reduces origin fetches when responses are cacheable and allowed to remain in the edge cache for a meaningful duration. Ensuring the objects include correct cache-control headers (or configuring CloudFront cache policy TTLs) increases cache hit rate, so fewer requests require fetching from S3 origin. This directly reduces origin bandwidth and related data transfer costs.
- B
Disable CloudFront caching so every request goes back to S3 for the latest image
Why wrong: Disabling caching forces CloudFront to treat every request as a miss and fetch from the origin each time. This increases origin fetch volume and typically increases both latency and origin bandwidth cost.
- C
Route users directly to the S3 website endpoint to bypass CloudFront
Why wrong: Bypassing CloudFront removes edge caching and shifts traffic directly to S3. That typically increases latency and increases the amount of data transferred to the origin rather than reducing origin fetches.
- D
Turn on a NAT Gateway for the CloudFront origin to reduce bandwidth charges
Why wrong: NAT Gateways affect outbound traffic from instances in private subnets. CloudFront-to-origin caching behavior is not controlled by NAT Gateway settings, so this would not improve CloudFront cache hit rate or reduce origin fetches.
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.
Your global users access static images stored in S3. Origin bandwidth costs are higher than expected because CloudFront is not caching effectively. What change most directly reduces origin fetches (and typically lowers data transfer costs) without changing application logic?
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 CloudFront caching by setting appropriate cache-control headers and/or CloudFront cache policy/TTL values for the static objects
The high origin bandwidth costs are caused by CloudFront not caching effectively, meaning too many requests reach the S3 origin. By configuring appropriate Cache-Control headers or a CloudFront cache policy with optimal TTL values, you ensure that CloudFront caches the static images at edge locations for longer periods. This directly reduces the number of origin fetches, lowering data transfer costs without any changes to the application logic.
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 CloudFront caching by setting appropriate cache-control headers and/or CloudFront cache policy/TTL values for the static objects
Why this is correct
CloudFront reduces origin fetches when responses are cacheable and allowed to remain in the edge cache for a meaningful duration. Ensuring the objects include correct cache-control headers (or configuring CloudFront cache policy TTLs) increases cache hit rate, so fewer requests require fetching from S3 origin. This directly reduces origin bandwidth and related data transfer costs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Disable CloudFront caching so every request goes back to S3 for the latest image
Why it's wrong here
Disabling caching forces CloudFront to treat every request as a miss and fetch from the origin each time. This increases origin fetch volume and typically increases both latency and origin bandwidth cost.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asks for the most direct way to ensure users always see the latest version of an object without any delay, and cost is not a concern. Disabling caching would guarantee fresh content from S3 on every request.
- ✗
Route users directly to the S3 website endpoint to bypass CloudFront
Why it's wrong here
Bypassing CloudFront removes edge caching and shifts traffic directly to S3. That typically increases latency and increases the amount of data transferred to the origin rather than reducing origin fetches.
- ✗
Turn on a NAT Gateway for the CloudFront origin to reduce bandwidth charges
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The SAA-C03 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Configure CloudFront caching by setting appropriate cache-control headers and/or CloudFront cache policy/TTL values for the static objectsCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
CloudFront reduces origin fetches when responses are cacheable and allowed to remain in the edge cache for a meaningful duration. Ensuring the objects include correct cache-control headers (or configuring CloudFront cache policy TTLs) increases cache hit rate, so fewer requests require fetching from S3 origin. This directly reduces origin bandwidth and related data transfer costs.
✗Disable CloudFront caching so every request goes back to S3 for the latest imageWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Disabling CloudFront caching forces every request to the S3 origin, increasing origin fetches and data transfer costs, which is the opposite of the goal to reduce them.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asks for the most direct way to ensure users always see the latest version of an object without any delay, and cost is not a concern. Disabling caching would guarantee fresh content from S3 on every request.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think that disabling caching simplifies configuration or avoids stale content, but they overlook that caching is the primary mechanism to reduce origin load and costs.
✗Turn on a NAT Gateway for the CloudFront origin to reduce bandwidth chargesWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
A NAT Gateway is used to enable private subnets to access the internet or other AWS services, not to reduce bandwidth charges for CloudFront origins. It does not affect CloudFront caching or origin fetch behavior.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
In a scenario where an application in a private subnet needs to access an S3 bucket (or other internet resource) and you want to avoid using a public IP or an internet gateway, a NAT Gateway would be the correct solution to provide outbound internet access.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may mistakenly think that a NAT Gateway can reduce data transfer costs because it is associated with network address translation and cost management, but it does not apply to CloudFront-to-S3 data transfer.
Analysis generated from the official SAA-C03blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think disabling caching or bypassing CloudFront entirely will reduce costs, when in fact the opposite is true—effective caching is the key to reducing origin fetches and lowering data transfer costs.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CloudFront cache behavior is governed by TTL values derived from Cache-Control headers (e.g., max-age=31536000) or from a CloudFront cache policy. When a cache hit occurs at the edge, the request is served without contacting the origin, reducing origin load and data transfer costs. For static images, setting a long TTL (e.g., 1 year) is common, but you must also consider cache invalidation strategies if images are updated. Under the hood, CloudFront uses a least-recently-used (LRU) eviction policy when edge cache storage is full, so even with long TTLs, infrequently accessed objects may be evicted earlier.
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.
Visual reference
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
What to study next
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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 CloudFront caching by setting appropriate cache-control headers and/or CloudFront cache policy/TTL values for the static objects — The high origin bandwidth costs are caused by CloudFront not caching effectively, meaning too many requests reach the S3 origin. By configuring appropriate Cache-Control headers or a CloudFront cache policy with optimal TTL values, you ensure that CloudFront caches the static images at edge locations for longer periods. This directly reduces the number of origin fetches, lowering data transfer costs without any changes to the application logic.
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.
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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