The answer is to create an Auto Scaling group and associate it with the Application Load Balancer, then configure a scaling policy based on CPU utilization. This works because the Auto Scaling group manages the EC2 instance fleet and integrates with the ALB to distribute traffic, while a dynamic scaling policy using a target tracking or step scaling approach adjusts capacity in real-time based on the CPU metric, not on a fixed schedule. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this tests your understanding of dynamic versus scheduled scaling—a common trap is selecting a scheduled policy for predictable traffic, but the question explicitly requires scaling based on CPU utilization, not time. Remember, a CloudWatch alarm is merely the trigger mechanism, not the policy itself; the core requirement is the scaling policy tied to the Auto Scaling group. Memory tip: “CPU drives dynamic, time drives scheduled—match the metric to the policy.”
SAP-C02 Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of continuous improvement for existing 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 web application on EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer. The application experiences high traffic during business hours and low traffic at night. The company wants to automatically scale the instances based on CPU utilization. Which TWO steps are required to achieve this?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a dynamic scaling policy based on the average CPU utilization metric.
Options A and C are correct. An Auto Scaling group is needed to manage the instances, and a scaling policy based on CPU utilization is needed. Option B is wrong because a scheduled scaling policy is based on time, not CPU. Option D is wrong because a Network Load Balancer is not required. Option E is wrong because CloudWatch alarm is part of the scaling policy but not the primary requirement; the policy itself is needed.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 a scheduled scaling policy to add instances during business hours.
Why it's wrong here
Not based on CPU.
✗
Replace the ALB with a Network Load Balancer for better performance.
Why it's wrong here
Not related to scaling.
✓
Create a dynamic scaling policy based on the average CPU utilization metric.
Why this is correct
Scales based on CPU.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Create an Auto Scaling group and associate it with the ALB.
Why this is correct
Required for scaling.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Create a CloudWatch alarm that sends an email when CPU exceeds 80%.
Why it's wrong here
Notification only.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
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
How to think about this question
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.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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.
Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — This question tests Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a dynamic scaling policy based on the average CPU utilization metric. — Options A and C are correct. An Auto Scaling group is needed to manage the instances, and a scaling policy based on CPU utilization is needed. Option B is wrong because a scheduled scaling policy is based on time, not CPU. Option D is wrong because a Network Load Balancer is not required. Option E is wrong because CloudWatch alarm is part of the scaling policy but not the primary requirement; the policy itself is needed.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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