Quick Answer
The answer is Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS) and Amazon EventBridge, as these two services together provide the core mechanisms to decouple microservices and handle asynchronous communication in an event-driven architecture on AWS. SQS offers a durable, pull-based message queue that allows microservices to send and receive messages without waiting for each other, effectively breaking the synchronous dependency that plagues monolithic systems. EventBridge complements this by enabling event buses that route events from producers to consumers based on rules, supporting a publish-subscribe pattern ideal for reacting to state changes. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of how to replace a shared database with loose coupling; a common trap is choosing Amazon SNS for decoupling, but SNS is a pub/sub notification service that pushes messages without queue-based buffering, making SQS the correct choice for reliable decoupling. Remember the memory tip: “SQS for queues, EventBridge for events” — if you need a buffer, pick the queue; if you need to react to changes, pick the event bus.
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 modernizing its monolithic Java application to a microservices architecture on AWS. The application uses a shared Oracle database. The team wants to implement an event-driven architecture. Which TWO AWS services should be used to decouple microservices and handle asynchronous communication?
AWS AppSync
Why wrong: GraphQL API service.
Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS)
Why wrong: Pub/sub model, not a queue.
Amazon Kinesis Data Streams
Why wrong: Streaming data, not typical decoupling.
Amazon EventBridge
Event bus for event-driven architecture.
Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS)
Message queue for decoupling.
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 EventBridge
Option C (SQS) and Option D (EventBridge) are correct. SQS provides message queuing for decoupling. EventBridge enables event-driven communication. Option A (SNS) is pub/sub but not for decoupling queues. Option B (Kinesis) is for streaming, not typical decoupling. Option E (AppSync) is for GraphQL APIs.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
AWS AppSync
Why it's wrong here
GraphQL API service.
Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS)
Why it's wrong here
Pub/sub model, not a queue.
Amazon Kinesis Data Streams
Why it's wrong here
Streaming data, not typical decoupling.
Amazon EventBridge
Why this is correct
Event bus for event-driven architecture.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS)
Why this is correct
Message queue for decoupling.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Common exam traps
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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. ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement. 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
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SAP-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
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FAQ
Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — This question tests Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
The correct answer is: Amazon EventBridge — Option C (SQS) and Option D (EventBridge) are correct. SQS provides message queuing for decoupling. EventBridge enables event-driven communication. Option A (SNS) is pub/sub but not for decoupling queues. Option B (Kinesis) is for streaming, not typical decoupling. Option E (AppSync) is for GraphQL APIs.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SAP-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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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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