- A
Enable S3 Cross-Region Replication from the us-west-2 source bucket to a destination bucket in us-east-1, and update the app to read from the us-east-1 bucket.
CRR keeps the west bucket as the source of record while creating a near-region copy to reduce inter-Region transfer on reads.
- B
Create an interface VPC endpoint for S3 in us-east-1 and keep all object reads pointing to the us-west-2 bucket.
Why wrong: VPC endpoints do not eliminate inter-Region transfer if the bucket remains in west; they only optimize private connectivity to the same Region.
- C
Use VPC peering between two regions and route all requests to the us-west-2 bucket over the peering link.
Why wrong: VPC peering does not remove inter-Region S3 data transfer charges and adds network complexity.
- D
Use Route 53 latency-based routing to send users to a us-west-2 web endpoint and keep the S3 bucket unchanged.
Why wrong: Routing user traffic to us-west-2 may help user latency, but it likely increases compute costs and still doesn’t address the read pattern cost driver.
Quick Answer
The correct solution is to enable S3 Cross-Region Replication (CRR) from the us-west-2 source bucket to a destination bucket in us-east-1, then update the application to read from the us-east-1 replica. This directly reduces inter-region data transfer costs because all read traffic now stays within the same AWS region, eliminating the per-GB charges incurred when EC2 in us-east-1 fetches objects from a bucket in us-west-2. The compliance constraint is satisfied because CRR keeps the original us-west-2 bucket as the immutable system of record, while the replica in us-east-1 serves as a local read cache. On the SAA-C03 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that CRR solves cross-region latency and cost issues without altering the authoritative data source—a common trap is assuming you can simply move the bucket or use a VPC endpoint, but neither preserves the compliance requirement. Memory tip: “Read local, write global” — replicate for reads, keep origin for compliance.
SAA-C03 Design Cost-Optimized Architectures Practice Question
This SAA-C03 practice question tests your understanding of design cost-optimized architectures. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: s3 Cross-Region Replication (CRR) copies objects between buckets in different AWS Regions.. 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.
An application runs on EC2 in us-east-1 and frequently reads objects from an S3 bucket that is physically located in us-west-2. The finance team reports unexpectedly high inter-Region data transfer charges because the application retrieves objects for many user requests. A constraint: the bucket in us-west-2 must remain the system of record for compliance, but the application can read from a replica in us-east-1.
What should the solutions architect do to minimize network spend while meeting the compliance constraint?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
Enable S3 Cross-Region Replication from the us-west-2 source bucket to a destination bucket in us-east-1, and update the app to read from the us-east-1 bucket.
Option A is correct because enabling S3 Cross-Region Replication (CRR) automatically copies objects from the us-west-2 source bucket to a destination bucket in us-east-1, satisfying the compliance requirement that the us-west-2 bucket remains the system of record. By updating the application to read from the us-east-1 replica, all data retrieval traffic stays within the same region, eliminating inter-Region data transfer charges (which are typically $0.02/GB for S3 GET requests across regions). This approach directly addresses the cost issue while preserving the original bucket as the authoritative source.
Key principle: S3 Cross-Region Replication (CRR) copies objects between buckets in different AWS Regions.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Enable S3 Cross-Region Replication from the us-west-2 source bucket to a destination bucket in us-east-1, and update the app to read from the us-east-1 bucket.
Why this is correct
CRR keeps the west bucket as the source of record while creating a near-region copy to reduce inter-Region transfer on reads.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
S3 Cross-Region Replication (CRR) copies objects between buckets in different AWS Regions.
- ✗
Create an interface VPC endpoint for S3 in us-east-1 and keep all object reads pointing to the us-west-2 bucket.
Why it's wrong here
VPC endpoints do not eliminate inter-Region transfer if the bucket remains in west; they only optimize private connectivity to the same Region.
- ✗
Use VPC peering between two regions and route all requests to the us-west-2 bucket over the peering link.
Why it's wrong here
VPC peering does not remove inter-Region S3 data transfer charges and adds network complexity.
- ✗
Use Route 53 latency-based routing to send users to a us-west-2 web endpoint and keep the S3 bucket unchanged.
Why it's wrong here
Routing user traffic to us-west-2 may help user latency, but it likely increases compute costs and still doesn’t address the read pattern cost driver.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume VPC endpoints or peering can magically route S3 traffic within a region, but S3 is a regional service and inter-Region data transfer charges apply regardless of the network path used.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
S3 Cross-Region Replication (CRR) uses asynchronous replication to copy objects to a destination bucket in another region, with replication typically completing within 15 minutes under normal conditions. The application can read from the replica using standard S3 GET requests, and since both the EC2 instance and the bucket are in us-east-1, data transfer is free (except for request costs). A subtle behavior: CRR requires versioning enabled on both source and destination buckets, and only new objects are replicated by default—existing objects must be replicated using S3 Batch Operations or a manual copy.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- S3 Cross-Region Replication (CRR) copies objects between buckets in different AWS Regions.
- CRR maintains the source bucket as the system of record while providing a read replica.
- Reading from a local S3 replica significantly reduces inter-Region data transfer costs.
- CRR is configured at the bucket level with a replication rule.
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
S3 Cross-Region Replication (CRR) copies objects between buckets in different AWS Regions.
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.
Review s3 Cross-Region Replication (CRR) copies objects between buckets in different AWS Regions., then practise related SAA-C03 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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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 — S3 Cross-Region Replication (CRR) copies objects between buckets in different AWS Regions..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable S3 Cross-Region Replication from the us-west-2 source bucket to a destination bucket in us-east-1, and update the app to read from the us-east-1 bucket. — Option A is correct because enabling S3 Cross-Region Replication (CRR) automatically copies objects from the us-west-2 source bucket to a destination bucket in us-east-1, satisfying the compliance requirement that the us-west-2 bucket remains the system of record. By updating the application to read from the us-east-1 replica, all data retrieval traffic stays within the same region, eliminating inter-Region data transfer charges (which are typically $0.02/GB for S3 GET requests across regions). This approach directly addresses the cost issue while preserving the original bucket as the authoritative source.
What should I do if I get this SAA-C03 question wrong?
Review s3 Cross-Region Replication (CRR) copies objects between buckets in different AWS Regions., then practise related SAA-C03 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
S3 Cross-Region Replication (CRR) copies objects between buckets in different AWS Regions.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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