Quick Answer
The correct answer is AWS Cloud Map and Amazon API Gateway. AWS Cloud Map provides service discovery by allowing microservices to dynamically register and discover each other using logical service names, while API Gateway acts as the front door for managing, securing, and routing API requests to those microservices. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this pairing tests your understanding of how to decouple microservices in a cloud-native architecture, often appearing in migration or modernization scenarios where you must replace traditional load balancers or DNS-based discovery. A common trap is selecting Elastic Load Balancing for service discovery or Route 53 for API management—remember that Cloud Map is purpose-built for dynamic service registration and health checking, not just DNS resolution. For a quick memory tip: think of Cloud Map as the internal phonebook for your microservices, and API Gateway as the secure receptionist at the front door.
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of accelerate workload migration and modernization. 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.
A company is migrating a web application to AWS and wants to modernize it by using a microservices architecture. Which TWO AWS services should the company use to implement service discovery and API gateway functionality?
Amazon Route 53
Why wrong: Route 53 is DNS, not a service discovery tool for dynamic microservices.
AWS App Mesh
Why wrong: App Mesh provides service mesh capabilities, not API gateway.
Amazon API Gateway
API Gateway provides API management and gateway functionality.
Elastic Load Balancing (ELB)
Why wrong: ELB is for load distribution, not service discovery.
AWS Cloud Map
Cloud Map provides service discovery for microservices.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Amazon API Gateway
Option A (AWS Cloud Map) and Option D (Amazon API Gateway) are correct. Cloud Map provides service discovery for microservices. API Gateway provides API management. Option B (ELB) is for load balancing, not service discovery. Option C (Route 53) is DNS, not specialized for service discovery. Option E (App Mesh) is for service mesh, not API gateway.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Amazon Route 53
Why it's wrong here
Route 53 is DNS, not a service discovery tool for dynamic microservices.
AWS App Mesh
Why it's wrong here
App Mesh provides service mesh capabilities, not API gateway.
Amazon API Gateway
Why this is correct
API Gateway provides API management and gateway functionality.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Elastic Load Balancing (ELB)
Why it's wrong here
ELB is for load distribution, not service discovery.
AWS Cloud Map
Why this is correct
Cloud Map provides service discovery for microservices.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. 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
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.
Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — This question tests Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Amazon API Gateway — Option A (AWS Cloud Map) and Option D (Amazon API Gateway) are correct. Cloud Map provides service discovery for microservices. API Gateway provides API management. Option B (ELB) is for load balancing, not service discovery. Option C (Route 53) is DNS, not specialized for service discovery. Option E (App Mesh) is for service mesh, not API gateway.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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