- A
Store session state on the local instance store of each EC2 instance.
Why wrong: Not durable and lost on instance termination.
- B
Use Amazon ElastiCache for Redis.
ElastiCache Redis is optimized for low-latency key-value storage and is cost-effective.
- C
Store session state in Amazon DynamoDB.
Why wrong: DynamoDB is a good option but less cost-effective for simple session data than ElastiCache.
- D
Store session state in Amazon RDS for MySQL.
Why wrong: RDS is not a key-value store and has higher latency.
Question 898 of 1,746
SAP-C02 Design for New Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design for new solutions. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 designing a new web application that requires a scalable, low-latency key-value store for session state. The application runs on EC2 instances in an Auto Scaling group. Which solution is the 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
✓
Use Amazon ElastiCache for Redis.
Amazon ElastiCache for Redis provides a fully managed, in-memory key-value store that delivers ultra-low latency (sub-millisecond) for session state access. It is highly scalable, supports replication and clustering, and is more cost-effective than DynamoDB for high-throughput session workloads because it avoids per-request read/write costs and provides automatic failover for high availability.
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.
- ✗
Store session state on the local instance store of each EC2 instance.
Why it's wrong here
Not durable and lost on instance termination.
- ✓
Use Amazon ElastiCache for Redis.
Why this is correct
ElastiCache Redis is optimized for low-latency key-value storage and is cost-effective.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Store session state in Amazon DynamoDB.
Why it's wrong here
DynamoDB is a good option but less cost-effective for simple session data than ElastiCache.
- ✗
Store session state in Amazon RDS for MySQL.
Why it's wrong here
RDS is not a key-value store and has higher latency.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose DynamoDB (Option C) because it is serverless and scalable, but they overlook that for session state, an in-memory cache like Redis is more cost-effective and provides lower latency, while DynamoDB's per-request costs and higher latency make it less optimal for this specific use case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ElastiCache for Redis uses an in-memory data store with optional persistence to disk (RDB/AOF), enabling sub-millisecond response times for session get/set operations. It supports data partitioning across shards (cluster mode) for horizontal scaling and replica nodes for read scaling and failover, making it ideal for session state that must survive individual instance failures without the overhead of a full database. Under the hood, Redis uses a single-threaded event loop for atomic operations, ensuring consistent performance under high concurrency.
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 Amazon ElastiCache for Redis. — Amazon ElastiCache for Redis provides a fully managed, in-memory key-value store that delivers ultra-low latency (sub-millisecond) for session state access. It is highly scalable, supports replication and clustering, and is more cost-effective than DynamoDB for high-throughput session workloads because it avoids per-request read/write costs and provides automatic failover for high availability.
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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