- A
Deploy the application on AWS Elastic Beanstalk and use Amazon RDS for MySQL
Why wrong: Elastic Beanstalk simplifies deployment but does not inherently decouple the application into microservices; it remains a monolithic deployment.
- B
Refactor the application into AWS Lambda functions using an API Gateway
Why wrong: Refactoring to Lambda requires significant code changes and may not be suitable for a monolithic application without extensive rewriting.
- C
Use AWS App Runner for the existing application and add new microservices as separate App Runner services with a sidecar pattern
App Runner allows running containerized applications with minimal configuration. The sidecar pattern enables adding microservices without altering the existing application code.
- D
Containerize the application using Docker and run it on Amazon ECS with AWS Fargate, using Amazon RDS for MySQL
Why wrong: Containerization and orchestration involve learning curve and operational overhead; also requires code changes to fit microservices architecture.
Cost-Effective Microservices Migration with App Runner
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 migrating a legacy monolithic application to AWS. The application currently runs on a single server and uses a MySQL database. The company wants to decouple the application into microservices while minimizing changes to the existing code. Which design approach is MOST cost-effective and requires the least code changes?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"least"Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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 AWS App Runner for the existing application and add new microservices as separate App Runner services with a sidecar pattern
Option C is correct because AWS App Runner allows you to run the existing monolithic application with minimal code changes by simply pointing it at a container image or source code, while new microservices can be added as separate App Runner services. The sidecar pattern enables you to attach auxiliary processes (e.g., logging, monitoring) without modifying the core application code, making this the most cost-effective and least disruptive approach for decoupling into microservices.
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.
- ✗
Deploy the application on AWS Elastic Beanstalk and use Amazon RDS for MySQL
Why it's wrong here
Elastic Beanstalk simplifies deployment but does not inherently decouple the application into microservices; it remains a monolithic deployment.
- ✗
Refactor the application into AWS Lambda functions using an API Gateway
Why it's wrong here
Refactoring to Lambda requires significant code changes and may not be suitable for a monolithic application without extensive rewriting.
- ✓
Use AWS App Runner for the existing application and add new microservices as separate App Runner services with a sidecar pattern
Why this is correct
App Runner allows running containerized applications with minimal configuration. The sidecar pattern enables adding microservices without altering the existing application code.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Containerize the application using Docker and run it on Amazon ECS with AWS Fargate, using Amazon RDS for MySQL
Why it's wrong here
Containerization and orchestration involve learning curve and operational overhead; also requires code changes to fit microservices architecture.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often assume that containerization (Option D) is necessary for decoupling into microservices. However, AWS App Runner allows running the existing monolithic application with minimal changes and adding new microservices as separate services, without needing to refactor the monolith first. Note that App Runner does not natively support the sidecar pattern (multiple containers per service), but the decoupling is achieved by deploying separate services.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS App Runner automatically builds and deploys web applications from a container image or source code repository, handling load balancing, scaling, and TLS termination. The sidecar pattern in App Runner is implemented by running a separate container in the same environment (e.g., for logging agents like Fluentd or service mesh proxies like Envoy), which can be added without altering the application code. This approach is particularly cost-effective for legacy migrations because it avoids the overhead of managing orchestration clusters (e.g., ECS or EKS) and only charges for the resources consumed by each service.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use AWS App Runner for the existing application and add new microservices as separate App Runner services with a sidecar pattern — Option C is correct because AWS App Runner allows you to run the existing monolithic application with minimal code changes by simply pointing it at a container image or source code, while new microservices can be added as separate App Runner services. The sidecar pattern enables you to attach auxiliary processes (e.g., logging, monitoring) without modifying the core application code, making this the most cost-effective and least disruptive approach for decoupling into microservices.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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