- A
Add more EC2 instances behind a load balancer.
Adding more EC2 instances behind a load balancer allows scaling out, which can distribute the workload across smaller, cheaper instances, optimizing cost while maintaining or improving performance.
- B
Rightsize the instance to a larger instance type.
Why wrong: Rightsizing to a larger instance increases cost, which contradicts the goal of cost optimization. This option might address performance but not cost effectively.
- C
Purchase a Reserved Instance for the current instance type.
Why wrong: Purchasing a Reserved Instance reduces the hourly cost but does not solve the immediate high CPU utilization issue. It commits to the current instance type, which may still be underpowered or overprovisioned.
- D
Terminate the instance and launch a new one of the same type.
Why wrong: Terminating and launching a new instance of the same type does not change the instance's resources; it simply restarts the instance, so the performance problem remains.
SAP-C02 Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of continuous improvement for existing solutions. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 DevOps engineer notices that an EC2 instance's CPU utilization is consistently above 90%. They need to optimize costs without affecting performance. What should they do?
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
Add more EC2 instances behind a load balancer.
Option A is correct because adding more EC2 instances behind a load balancer allows you to distribute the workload across multiple smaller instances, which can be more cost-effective than a single large instance. This approach (scaling out) can improve performance and availability without necessarily increasing costs, as you can use smaller, cheaper instance types. Option B is wrong because rightsizing to a larger instance typically increases cost, contrary to the goal of cost optimization. Option C is wrong because purchasing a Reserved Instance reduces cost but does not address the high CPU utilization performance issue. Option D is wrong because launching a new instance of the same type does not solve the performance problem.
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 more EC2 instances behind a load balancer.
Why this is correct
Adding more EC2 instances behind a load balancer allows scaling out, which can distribute the workload across smaller, cheaper instances, optimizing cost while maintaining or improving performance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Rightsize the instance to a larger instance type.
Why it's wrong here
Rightsizing to a larger instance increases cost, which contradicts the goal of cost optimization. This option might address performance but not cost effectively.
- ✗
Purchase a Reserved Instance for the current instance type.
Why it's wrong here
Purchasing a Reserved Instance reduces the hourly cost but does not solve the immediate high CPU utilization issue. It commits to the current instance type, which may still be underpowered or overprovisioned.
- ✗
Terminate the instance and launch a new one of the same type.
Why it's wrong here
Terminating and launching a new instance of the same type does not change the instance's resources; it simply restarts the instance, so the performance problem remains.
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 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 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.
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Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
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: Add more EC2 instances behind a load balancer. — Option A is correct because adding more EC2 instances behind a load balancer allows you to distribute the workload across multiple smaller instances, which can be more cost-effective than a single large instance. This approach (scaling out) can improve performance and availability without necessarily increasing costs, as you can use smaller, cheaper instance types. Option B is wrong because rightsizing to a larger instance typically increases cost, contrary to the goal of cost optimization. Option C is wrong because purchasing a Reserved Instance reduces cost but does not address the high CPU utilization performance issue. Option D is wrong because launching a new instance of the same type does not solve the performance problem.
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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Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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