- A
Use an Auto Scaling group with a target tracking scaling policy based on CPU utilization. Enable Aurora Auto Scaling to add read replicas based on CPU or connections.
Auto Scaling scales web tier; Aurora Auto Scaling scales read capacity automatically.
- B
Use an Auto Scaling group with a target tracking scaling policy based on CPU utilization. Use Amazon SQS to queue read requests during peak traffic.
Why wrong: SQS does not help with read scaling; it decouples work.
- C
Use an Auto Scaling group with a simple scaling policy based on CPU utilization. Use DynamoDB Auto Scaling for the database.
Why wrong: The database is Aurora MySQL, not DynamoDB.
- D
Use an Auto Scaling group with a step scaling policy based on CPU utilization. Use ElastiCache Auto Scaling to add cache nodes for read traffic.
Why wrong: ElastiCache caches data but does not serve as the primary database.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to use an Auto Scaling group with a target tracking scaling policy based on CPU utilization and enable Aurora Auto Scaling to add read replicas based on CPU or connections. This combination directly addresses the need for automatic scaling of both the stateless web tier and the stateful database tier under variable traffic. Aurora Auto Scaling dynamically adjusts the number of read replicas to handle spikes in read traffic without manual intervention, while the target tracking policy on the web tier ensures EC2 instances scale in response to CPU load. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between services that natively handle read scaling (Aurora Auto Scaling) versus caching or queuing solutions. A common trap is to confuse ElastiCache or DynamoDB as the database, but the question explicitly specifies Aurora MySQL. Memory tip: think “two tiers, two Auto Scaling policies”—one for compute (EC2) and one for reads (Aurora).
SAP-C02 Design for New Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design for new solutions. 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 deploying a new web application on AWS that requires a highly available and scalable architecture. The application consists of a stateless web tier and a stateful database tier. The web tier runs on Amazon EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer. The database tier uses Amazon Aurora MySQL. The company expects variable traffic patterns and wants to automatically scale the web tier based on CPU utilization. Additionally, the company wants to ensure that the database can handle increased read traffic without manual intervention. Which combination of actions should the company take?
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 Auto Scaling group with a target tracking scaling policy based on CPU utilization. Enable Aurora Auto Scaling to add read replicas based on CPU or connections.
Option D is correct because Auto Scaling based on CPU utilization scales the web tier, and Aurora Auto Scaling adds read replicas automatically. Option A: DynamoDB is not the database; the question specifies Aurora. Option B: ElastiCache is not the database; it's a cache. Option C: SQS does not scale the web tier.
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.
- ✓
Use an Auto Scaling group with a target tracking scaling policy based on CPU utilization. Enable Aurora Auto Scaling to add read replicas based on CPU or connections.
Why this is correct
Auto Scaling scales web tier; Aurora Auto Scaling scales read capacity automatically.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Use an Auto Scaling group with a target tracking scaling policy based on CPU utilization. Use Amazon SQS to queue read requests during peak traffic.
Why it's wrong here
SQS does not help with read scaling; it decouples work.
- ✗
Use an Auto Scaling group with a simple scaling policy based on CPU utilization. Use DynamoDB Auto Scaling for the database.
Why it's wrong here
The database is Aurora MySQL, not DynamoDB.
- ✗
Use an Auto Scaling group with a step scaling policy based on CPU utilization. Use ElastiCache Auto Scaling to add cache nodes for read traffic.
Why it's wrong here
ElastiCache caches data but does not serve as the primary database.
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 — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Design for New Solutions practice questions
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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 an Auto Scaling group with a target tracking scaling policy based on CPU utilization. Enable Aurora Auto Scaling to add read replicas based on CPU or connections. — Option D is correct because Auto Scaling based on CPU utilization scales the web tier, and Aurora Auto Scaling adds read replicas automatically. Option A: DynamoDB is not the database; the question specifies Aurora. Option B: ElastiCache is not the database; it's a cache. Option C: SQS does not scale the web tier.
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
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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