The correct answer is to use Amazon ElastiCache in front of the database and implement read replicas, as these two actions directly improve MySQL read performance on AWS by offloading read traffic and caching frequently accessed data. ElastiCache reduces latency by serving hot data from memory, while read replicas distribute read-heavy workloads across multiple MySQL instances, preventing the primary database from becoming a bottleneck. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between performance optimization and high availability—a common trap is selecting Multi-AZ, which only provides failover, not read scaling. Remember the memory tip: “Cache for speed, replicas for reads, Multi-AZ for redundancy.” This pairing of ElastiCache and read replicas is the standard pattern for scaling read-heavy databases without adding sharding complexity.
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of accelerate workload migration and modernization. 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 migrating a legacy e-commerce platform to AWS. The platform includes a MySQL database that experiences heavy read traffic. The company wants to improve performance and reduce latency for read operations. Which TWO actions should the solutions architect take?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add read replicas to the RDS MySQL database.
Adding read replicas offloads read traffic from the primary database, improving performance. Implementing Amazon ElastiCache for caching reduces database load for frequently accessed data. Multi-AZ is for high availability, not read performance. Provisioned IOPS improves write performance. Sharding adds complexity and may not be necessary.
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.
✗
Enable Multi-AZ on the RDS instance.
Why it's wrong here
Multi-AZ provides high availability, not read performance improvement.
✗
Shard the database across multiple RDS instances.
Why it's wrong here
Sharding adds complexity and may require application changes.
✗
Upgrade to Provisioned IOPS for the database.
Why it's wrong here
Provisioned IOPS improves disk performance, but is not specifically targeted at read-heavy workloads.
✓
Add read replicas to the RDS MySQL database.
Why this is correct
Read replicas reduce load on the primary and improve read latency.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Use Amazon ElastiCache in front of the database.
Why this is correct
Caching reduces database reads for frequently accessed data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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.
Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — This question tests Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add read replicas to the RDS MySQL database. — Adding read replicas offloads read traffic from the primary database, improving performance. Implementing Amazon ElastiCache for caching reduces database load for frequently accessed data. Multi-AZ is for high availability, not read performance. Provisioned IOPS improves write performance. Sharding adds complexity and may not be necessary.
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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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.
Question Discussion
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