- 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.
Quick Answer
The answer is to configure CloudFront caching by setting appropriate Cache-Control headers or a CloudFront cache policy with optimal TTL values for the static objects. This directly reduces origin fetches because CloudFront will serve cached content from edge locations instead of repeatedly requesting the same images from the S3 origin, which is what drives up data transfer costs. On the SAA-C03 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how caching behavior—not application logic—controls origin load; a common trap is to suggest S3 Transfer Acceleration or changing the storage class, which address speed or cost differently but do not reduce the number of requests hitting the origin. The key insight is that static content should have a long TTL, and the simplest fix is always at the CloudFront cache configuration layer. Memory tip: think “TTL = Trip To Origin Lessened”—longer TTL means fewer trips back to S3.
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.
- ✗
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
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.
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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