- A
Increase the RDS instance size to a larger instance type.
Why wrong: Scaling up helps temporarily but is not cost-effective and does not solve the root cause.
- B
Create an RDS read replica and offload read traffic to it.
Why wrong: Read replicas don't reduce write load or connection count; they also require application changes to route reads.
- C
Implement an Amazon ElastiCache cluster and modify the application to cache frequent queries.
Caching reduces database load and can be done with minimal code changes if using a caching abstraction.
- D
Migrate the database to Amazon Aurora with Multi-AZ.
Why wrong: Aurora improves performance but still has connection limits; migration takes time and effort.
Question 1,231 of 1,746
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 company runs a customer-facing web application on EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer. The application stores session data in an RDS MySQL database. Recently, they have been experiencing increased latency and occasional timeouts during peak hours. The operations team has observed that the RDS instance's CPU utilization is consistently above 80%, and the number of database connections is near the maximum allowed. The application code is not easily modifiable in the short term. The company needs a solution that reduces the load on the database with minimal changes to the application. What should a solutions architect recommend?
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
✓
Implement an Amazon ElastiCache cluster and modify the application to cache frequent queries.
Option C is correct because implementing an in-memory cache like Amazon ElastiCache can offload frequent read queries from the database, reducing CPU utilization and the number of connections. This can be achieved with minimal code changes if the application uses caching libraries or can be configured to use a caching layer for session data or frequently accessed data. Option A is incorrect: increasing the RDS instance size might temporarily alleviate CPU pressure but does not reduce the number of connections and is not a scalable solution; it also requires downtime for resizing. Option B is incorrect: creating an RDS read replica offloads read traffic but does not reduce write load or the connection count on the primary instance; session data typically involves both reads and writes, so a read replica would not significantly help with the primary's CPU or connection limit. Option D is incorrect: migrating to Amazon Aurora Multi-AZ provides better performance and high availability, but the migration process is not minimal and does not directly reduce the load on the database; it also does not address the connection limit issue.
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.
- ✗
Increase the RDS instance size to a larger instance type.
Why it's wrong here
Scaling up helps temporarily but is not cost-effective and does not solve the root cause.
- ✗
Create an RDS read replica and offload read traffic to it.
Why it's wrong here
Read replicas don't reduce write load or connection count; they also require application changes to route reads.
- ✓
Implement an Amazon ElastiCache cluster and modify the application to cache frequent queries.
Why this is correct
Caching reduces database load and can be done with minimal code changes if using a caching abstraction.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Migrate the database to Amazon Aurora with Multi-AZ.
Why it's wrong here
Aurora improves performance but still has connection limits; migration takes time and effort.
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.
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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: Implement an Amazon ElastiCache cluster and modify the application to cache frequent queries. — Option C is correct because implementing an in-memory cache like Amazon ElastiCache can offload frequent read queries from the database, reducing CPU utilization and the number of connections. This can be achieved with minimal code changes if the application uses caching libraries or can be configured to use a caching layer for session data or frequently accessed data. Option A is incorrect: increasing the RDS instance size might temporarily alleviate CPU pressure but does not reduce the number of connections and is not a scalable solution; it also requires downtime for resizing. Option B is incorrect: creating an RDS read replica offloads read traffic but does not reduce write load or the connection count on the primary instance; session data typically involves both reads and writes, so a read replica would not significantly help with the primary's CPU or connection limit. Option D is incorrect: migrating to Amazon Aurora Multi-AZ provides better performance and high availability, but the migration process is not minimal and does not directly reduce the load on the database; it also does not address the connection limit issue.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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