The correct answer is to configure the CloudWatch Logs agent on each instance to stream logs to CloudWatch Logs. This solution ensures application logs retention auto scaling because logs are sent to a centralized, durable service that persists independently of the instance lifecycle, so even when instances are terminated and replaced during scaling events, no log data is lost. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of decoupling ephemeral compute resources from persistent storage, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly choose instance store or EBS snapshots. A common memory tip is to remember that CloudWatch Logs is the only option designed for real-time, continuous log streaming that survives instance termination, while instance store is temporary and EBS snapshots are batch-oriented. Think of it as “stream to survive” — if the instance dies, the log stream lives on in CloudWatch.
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 multi-tier web application on AWS. The web tier must automatically scale based on CPU utilization, and the application tier must process messages from an SQS queue. The application tier instances are frequently terminated and replaced due to scaling events. Where should the application logs be stored to ensure they are retained regardless of instance lifecycle?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure the CloudWatch Logs agent on each instance to stream logs to CloudWatch Logs.
Option C is correct because CloudWatch Logs agent can stream logs to CloudWatch Logs, which persists logs independently of instance lifecycle. Option A is wrong because instance store data is ephemeral. Option B is wrong because S3 mounted via NFS is complex and not designed for real-time log streaming. Option D is wrong because EBS snapshots are not for continuous log collection.
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.
✓
Configure the CloudWatch Logs agent on each instance to stream logs to CloudWatch Logs.
Why this is correct
CloudWatch Logs persists logs independently of instance lifecycle and supports real-time streaming.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Store logs on an EBS volume and take regular snapshots.
Why it's wrong here
Snapshots are periodic backups, not a solution for continuous log access; logs on the volume are lost if the instance is terminated.
✗
Write logs to the instance store volume of each EC2 instance.
Why it's wrong here
Instance store data is lost when the instance is stopped or terminated.
✗
Write logs to an Amazon S3 bucket mounted on each instance using NFS.
Why it's wrong here
S3 is object storage, not a file system; mounting via NFS is not a native feature and adds complexity.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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.
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: Configure the CloudWatch Logs agent on each instance to stream logs to CloudWatch Logs. — Option C is correct because CloudWatch Logs agent can stream logs to CloudWatch Logs, which persists logs independently of instance lifecycle. Option A is wrong because instance store data is ephemeral. Option B is wrong because S3 mounted via NFS is complex and not designed for real-time log streaming. Option D is wrong because EBS snapshots are not for continuous log collection.
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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Question Discussion
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