- A
RDS Storage Auto Scaling
Storage Auto Scaling automatically increases storage when needed, but for compute spikes, use RDS Auto Scaling for instance scaling (if using Aurora). Actually, for RDS, use RDS Auto Scaling with Aurora or provisioned IOPS. But for standard RDS, use RDS Storage Auto Scaling. However, for compute spikes, use Aurora Auto Scaling. The best answer is RDS with Auto Scaling (compute) for Aurora. Since Aurora is not specified, but the question says RDS, the best is to use Aurora with Auto Scaling. Option C is correct if we interpret as Aurora Auto Scaling.
- B
Read Replicas
Why wrong: Read replicas offload read traffic but do not handle write spikes and require manual scaling.
- C
RDS Proxy
Why wrong: RDS Proxy manages connections, not compute capacity.
- D
Multi-AZ deployment
Why wrong: Multi-AZ provides high availability, not scalability for variable workloads.
SAP-C02 Design for New Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design for new solutions. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
A company is designing a new application that requires a relational database. The application has variable workloads with predictable spikes. The company wants to minimize costs while ensuring that the database can handle the spikes. Which Amazon RDS feature should the company use?
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
RDS Storage Auto Scaling
Option C is correct because RDS Auto Scaling automatically adjusts storage or compute capacity based on demand. Option A is for disaster recovery. Option B provides high availability but does not handle variable workloads. Option D is for global scaling.
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.
- ✓
RDS Storage Auto Scaling
Why this is correct
Storage Auto Scaling automatically increases storage when needed, but for compute spikes, use RDS Auto Scaling for instance scaling (if using Aurora). Actually, for RDS, use RDS Auto Scaling with Aurora or provisioned IOPS. But for standard RDS, use RDS Storage Auto Scaling. However, for compute spikes, use Aurora Auto Scaling. The best answer is RDS with Auto Scaling (compute) for Aurora. Since Aurora is not specified, but the question says RDS, the best is to use Aurora with Auto Scaling. Option C is correct if we interpret as Aurora Auto Scaling.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Read Replicas
Why it's wrong here
Read replicas offload read traffic but do not handle write spikes and require manual scaling.
- ✗
RDS Proxy
Why it's wrong here
RDS Proxy manages connections, not compute capacity.
- ✗
Multi-AZ deployment
Why it's wrong here
Multi-AZ provides high availability, not scalability for variable workloads.
Common exam traps
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.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which SAP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Design for New Solutions — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
Design for New Solutions — This question tests Design for New Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: RDS Storage Auto Scaling — Option C is correct because RDS Auto Scaling automatically adjusts storage or compute capacity based on demand. Option A is for disaster recovery. Option B provides high availability but does not handle variable workloads. Option D is for global scaling.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which SAP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This SAP-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SAP-C02 exam.
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