- A
Add Amazon ElastiCache to cache database queries.
Why wrong: This addresses database latency, not compute CPU utilization.
- B
Use Spot Instances to reduce costs and scale horizontally.
Why wrong: Spot Instances can be interrupted, which may cause latency issues.
- C
Increase the EC2 instance size to handle peak loads.
Why wrong: This leads to over-provisioning and higher costs.
- D
Configure an Auto Scaling group with a target tracking scaling policy based on average CPU utilization.
This dynamically adjusts capacity to maintain target utilization, optimizing cost and performance.
Question 934 of 1,746
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 runs a high-traffic web application on Amazon EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer. The application experiences intermittent latency spikes during peak hours. Analysis shows that the latency spikes correlate with high CPU utilization on the EC2 instances. The company wants to reduce latency without over-provisioning. Which solution is MOST cost-effective and scalable?
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
✓
Configure an Auto Scaling group with a target tracking scaling policy based on average CPU utilization.
Option D is correct because a target tracking scaling policy based on average CPU utilization automatically adjusts the number of EC2 instances in the Auto Scaling group to maintain a target CPU utilization level. This directly addresses the latency spikes caused by high CPU utilization during peak hours by scaling out horizontally, while scaling in during low traffic to avoid over-provisioning, making it both cost-effective and scalable.
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.
- ✗
Add Amazon ElastiCache to cache database queries.
Why it's wrong here
This addresses database latency, not compute CPU utilization.
- ✗
Use Spot Instances to reduce costs and scale horizontally.
Why it's wrong here
Spot Instances can be interrupted, which may cause latency issues.
- ✗
Increase the EC2 instance size to handle peak loads.
Why it's wrong here
This leads to over-provisioning and higher costs.
- ✓
Configure an Auto Scaling group with a target tracking scaling policy based on average CPU utilization.
Why this is correct
This dynamically adjusts capacity to maintain target utilization, optimizing cost and performance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse addressing the symptom (high CPU) with vertical scaling (Option C) or cost-saving measures (Option B), rather than recognizing that horizontal auto-scaling with a target tracking policy is the most cost-effective and scalable solution for handling intermittent latency spikes caused by CPU utilization.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Target tracking scaling policies in AWS Auto Scaling use a predefined or custom metric (e.g., average CPU utilization) and a target value (e.g., 50%). The policy continuously calculates the number of instances needed to maintain the target, using a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control algorithm to smooth out scaling actions and avoid thrashing. In real-world scenarios, this approach is more responsive than simple step scaling policies because it proactively adjusts capacity based on sustained load patterns rather than reacting to threshold breaches.
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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Design for New Solutions — study guide chapter
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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: Configure an Auto Scaling group with a target tracking scaling policy based on average CPU utilization. — Option D is correct because a target tracking scaling policy based on average CPU utilization automatically adjusts the number of EC2 instances in the Auto Scaling group to maintain a target CPU utilization level. This directly addresses the latency spikes caused by high CPU utilization during peak hours by scaling out horizontally, while scaling in during low traffic to avoid over-provisioning, making it both cost-effective and scalable.
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.
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
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