- A
Implement an event-driven architecture using Amazon SQS and AWS Lambda with CQRS.
Why wrong: CQRS is useful for separating reads and writes but doesn't address database ownership per service.
- B
Deploy a read replica of the database for each microservice to offload queries.
Why wrong: Read replicas do not give each service its own database; they still share the source.
- C
Use a single Amazon RDS instance with multiple schemas for each microservice.
Why wrong: A shared database creates tight coupling and single point of failure, not decoupling.
- D
Use a database-per-service pattern with each microservice having its own Amazon DynamoDB table or RDS instance.
Database-per-service ensures each microservice owns its data, enabling independent development and scaling.
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 migrating a monolithic application to a microservices architecture on AWS. The application uses a relational database with complex queries. The team wants to decouple the database layer and allow each microservice to own its data. Which design pattern should the team implement?
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 a database-per-service pattern with each microservice having its own Amazon DynamoDB table or RDS instance.
Option D is correct because the database-per-service pattern ensures each microservice has its own database, promoting loose coupling and independent scaling. Option A is wrong because a shared database contradicts the goal of decoupling. Option B is wrong because an event-driven architecture with CQRS is a separate pattern for query optimization. Option C is wrong because a read replica does not decouple the database per service.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Implement an event-driven architecture using Amazon SQS and AWS Lambda with CQRS.
Why it's wrong here
CQRS is useful for separating reads and writes but doesn't address database ownership per service.
- ✗
Deploy a read replica of the database for each microservice to offload queries.
Why it's wrong here
Read replicas do not give each service its own database; they still share the source.
- ✗
Use a single Amazon RDS instance with multiple schemas for each microservice.
Why it's wrong here
A shared database creates tight coupling and single point of failure, not decoupling.
- ✓
Use a database-per-service pattern with each microservice having its own Amazon DynamoDB table or RDS instance.
Why this is correct
Database-per-service ensures each microservice owns its data, enabling independent development and scaling.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SAP-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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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 — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a database-per-service pattern with each microservice having its own Amazon DynamoDB table or RDS instance. — Option D is correct because the database-per-service pattern ensures each microservice has its own database, promoting loose coupling and independent scaling. Option A is wrong because a shared database contradicts the goal of decoupling. Option B is wrong because an event-driven architecture with CQRS is a separate pattern for query optimization. Option C is wrong because a read replica does not decouple the database per service.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SAP-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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