- A
Set Cache-Control headers on the origin to always be no-cache so clients revalidate frequently.
Why wrong: No-cache forces frequent revalidation, which reduces CloudFront cache usefulness and increases origin requests.
- B
Use versioned file names (e.g., app.abc123.js) and configure a long TTL with appropriate revalidation behavior.
Versioned assets allow long caching with confidence, while new filenames trigger updates when code changes.
- C
Disable query string forwarding so all URLs without query strings share one cached object even when content differs.
Why wrong: This can cause incorrect content delivery if different query parameters generate different responses.
- D
Forward all headers, including cookies, to maximize personalization in edge cached responses.
Why wrong: Forwarding cookies and all headers typically reduces cache hits and increases cache fragmentation.
SAA-C03 Design High-Performing Architectures Practice Question
This SAA-C03 practice question tests your understanding of design high-performing 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. A key principle to apply: versioned filenames enable aggressive, long-duration caching (long TTL).. 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.
A company serves mostly static images and JavaScript files from an origin in one AWS Region. They want to reduce origin load and improve global performance. Which change most directly increases cache-hit ratio for static assets while avoiding stale content?
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
Use versioned file names (e.g., app.abc123.js) and configure a long TTL with appropriate revalidation behavior.
Option B is correct because using versioned file names (e.g., app.abc123.js) allows you to set a long Cache-Control max-age TTL (e.g., one year) without risking stale content. When the file changes, the versioned name changes, creating a new URL that forces a cache miss and fetches the fresh content. This directly increases the cache-hit ratio for static assets while ensuring clients never serve outdated files.
Key principle: Versioned filenames enable aggressive, long-duration caching (long TTL).
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Set Cache-Control headers on the origin to always be no-cache so clients revalidate frequently.
Why it's wrong here
No-cache forces frequent revalidation, which reduces CloudFront cache usefulness and increases origin requests.
- ✓
Use versioned file names (e.g., app.abc123.js) and configure a long TTL with appropriate revalidation behavior.
Why this is correct
Versioned assets allow long caching with confidence, while new filenames trigger updates when code changes.
Related concept
Versioned filenames enable aggressive, long-duration caching (long TTL).
- ✗
Disable query string forwarding so all URLs without query strings share one cached object even when content differs.
Why it's wrong here
This can cause incorrect content delivery if different query parameters generate different responses.
- ✗
Forward all headers, including cookies, to maximize personalization in edge cached responses.
Why it's wrong here
Forwarding cookies and all headers typically reduces cache hits and increases cache fragmentation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think disabling query strings or forwarding all headers helps caching, but in reality, these actions either cause cache collisions or fragment the cache, reducing the cache-hit ratio.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, CDNs like CloudFront use the cache key (URL + headers + query strings) to determine if a cached object can be served. Versioned file names exploit the fact that a new URL is a completely new cache entry, so you can safely set a max-age of 31536000 seconds (1 year) without needing revalidation. This pattern is often combined with immutable directives (RFC 8246) to tell clients never to revalidate, maximizing cache efficiency.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Versioned filenames enable aggressive, long-duration caching (long TTL).
- Changing the filename forces CloudFront to fetch the new version from the origin.
- This strategy maximizes cache-hit ratio for static assets.
- It avoids stale content by treating new versions as distinct objects.
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
Versioned filenames enable aggressive, long-duration caching (long TTL).
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review versioned filenames enable aggressive, long-duration caching (long TTL)., 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 High-Performing Architectures — This question tests Design High-Performing Architectures — Versioned filenames enable aggressive, long-duration caching (long TTL)..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use versioned file names (e.g., app.abc123.js) and configure a long TTL with appropriate revalidation behavior. — Option B is correct because using versioned file names (e.g., app.abc123.js) allows you to set a long Cache-Control max-age TTL (e.g., one year) without risking stale content. When the file changes, the versioned name changes, creating a new URL that forces a cache miss and fetches the fresh content. This directly increases the cache-hit ratio for static assets while ensuring clients never serve outdated files.
What should I do if I get this SAA-C03 question wrong?
Review versioned filenames enable aggressive, long-duration caching (long TTL)., then practise related SAA-C03 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Versioned filenames enable aggressive, long-duration caching (long TTL).
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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