- A
Run an Amazon ECS service with Fargate that polls the SQS queue and writes to DynamoDB. Configure auto scaling based on CPU utilization.
Why wrong: ECS with Fargate may have idle tasks, leading to unnecessary cost.
- B
Use an Amazon ECS service with Fargate and a target tracking scaling policy based on SQS queue depth.
Why wrong: This still requires at least one running task, which may be idle.
- C
Use Amazon Kinesis Data Streams to ingest messages and an AWS Lambda function to process and write to DynamoDB.
Why wrong: Kinesis is more expensive and designed for real-time streaming, not for standard message queuing.
- D
Use an AWS Lambda function with an SQS trigger to process messages and write to DynamoDB.
Lambda scales to zero when idle and scales up to handle thousands of messages, making it cost-effective and scalable.
Quick Answer
The answer is an AWS Lambda function with an SQS trigger, as this provides the most cost-effective and scalable SQS to DynamoDB processing for unpredictable workloads. This architecture is correct because Lambda automatically scales its concurrency to match the SQS queue depth, processing thousands of messages per second without any idle infrastructure costs, while writing directly to DynamoDB with provisioned or on-demand capacity. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of serverless event-driven patterns versus container-based approaches, with a common trap being the assumption that ECS with Fargate is serverless—it still requires at least one running task, incurring costs even when idle. The exam expects you to recognize that for bursty, variable workloads, a Lambda trigger eliminates the need to manage scaling policies or pay for unused compute. Memory tip: think "SQS-Lambda-DynamoDB" as the serverless trifecta—no idle tasks, no wasted spend.
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 will run on Amazon ECS with Fargate. The application must process messages from an Amazon SQS queue and store results in an Amazon DynamoDB table. The workload is unpredictable and can scale from 0 to thousands of messages per second. What is the MOST cost-effective and scalable architecture?
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 an AWS Lambda function with an SQS trigger to process messages and write to DynamoDB.
Option C is correct because using a Lambda function to poll the SQS queue and write to DynamoDB is serverless, scales automatically, and is cost-effective for unpredictable workloads. Option A is wrong because provisioning EC2 instances for ECS with Fargate still incurs costs even when idle. Option B is wrong because ECS with Fargate services require at least one running task, which may be idle. Option D is wrong because Kinesis Data Streams is designed for real-time streaming, not for standard message queuing, and may be more expensive.
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.
- ✗
Run an Amazon ECS service with Fargate that polls the SQS queue and writes to DynamoDB. Configure auto scaling based on CPU utilization.
Why it's wrong here
ECS with Fargate may have idle tasks, leading to unnecessary cost.
- ✗
Use an Amazon ECS service with Fargate and a target tracking scaling policy based on SQS queue depth.
Why it's wrong here
This still requires at least one running task, which may be idle.
- ✗
Use Amazon Kinesis Data Streams to ingest messages and an AWS Lambda function to process and write to DynamoDB.
Why it's wrong here
Kinesis is more expensive and designed for real-time streaming, not for standard message queuing.
- ✓
Use an AWS Lambda function with an SQS trigger to process messages and write to DynamoDB.
Why this is correct
Lambda scales to zero when idle and scales up to handle thousands of messages, making it cost-effective and scalable.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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: Use an AWS Lambda function with an SQS trigger to process messages and write to DynamoDB. — Option C is correct because using a Lambda function to poll the SQS queue and write to DynamoDB is serverless, scales automatically, and is cost-effective for unpredictable workloads. Option A is wrong because provisioning EC2 instances for ECS with Fargate still incurs costs even when idle. Option B is wrong because ECS with Fargate services require at least one running task, which may be idle. Option D is wrong because Kinesis Data Streams is designed for real-time streaming, not for standard message queuing, and may be more expensive.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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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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