- A
Mount an Amazon EFS file system to the Lambda function for temporary storage.
Why wrong: EFS is not required for this use case. Lambda can read from S3 directly. EFS adds complexity and cost.
- B
Use S3 event notifications to send the file content directly to Lambda.
Why wrong: S3 event notifications send only metadata (bucket name, object key) to Lambda. Lambda reads the file from S3 using the S3 API, so the file content is not sent in the event.
- C
Extend the Lambda function timeout to 30 minutes.
Why wrong: Lambda's maximum timeout is 15 minutes, so a 30-minute timeout is not possible.
- D
Configure S3 to send event notifications to the Lambda function.
S3 can trigger Lambda directly via event notifications when a new object is created, which is a simple and cost-effective integration.
- E
Set the Lambda function timeout to 15 minutes.
Lambda supports up to 15 minutes of execution time, which covers the expected processing time.
Quick Answer
The answer is to set the Lambda function timeout to 15 minutes and use S3 event notifications to trigger Lambda directly. This configuration works because Lambda’s maximum execution timeout is exactly 15 minutes, matching the processing requirement, and S3 event notifications pass only metadata—not the 1GB file itself—so the 128KB payload limit is irrelevant; Lambda reads the file from S3 via the SDK. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of Lambda’s hard limits and the decoupled nature of S3 event-driven architectures, with a common trap being confusion over payload size versus file size. Remember that S3 events are triggers, not data carriers—the file stays in the bucket, and Lambda fetches it. Memory tip: “15 minutes max, metadata only—S3 events don’t carry the payload.”
SAP-C02 Design for New Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design for new solutions. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 serverless application using AWS Lambda. The application must process files uploaded to an S3 bucket. Each file can be up to 1 GB in size. The processing time for each file is expected to be up to 15 minutes. The company wants to minimize cost and operational overhead. Which TWO configuration choices should the company make? (Choose TWO.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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 S3 to send event notifications to the Lambda function.
The correct answers are A and C. Option A is correct because Lambda's maximum execution timeout is 15 minutes, which meets the processing time requirement. Option C is correct because using S3 event notifications to invoke Lambda directly is a simple, cost-effective integration. Option B is wrong because Lambda has a maximum payload size of 128 KB for synchronous invocation, but for S3 events, the payload size limit is 128 KB; however, the file itself is stored in S3, and Lambda reads it using the S3 API, so the 1 GB file is not passed as an event payload. The event notification contains only metadata. Option D is wrong because Lambda does not support mounting EFS by default in all regions; it requires a VPC configuration and is not needed here. Option E is wrong because extending Lambda timeout to 30 minutes is not possible as the maximum is 15 minutes.
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.
- ✗
Mount an Amazon EFS file system to the Lambda function for temporary storage.
Why it's wrong here
EFS is not required for this use case. Lambda can read from S3 directly. EFS adds complexity and cost.
- ✗
Use S3 event notifications to send the file content directly to Lambda.
Why it's wrong here
S3 event notifications send only metadata (bucket name, object key) to Lambda. Lambda reads the file from S3 using the S3 API, so the file content is not sent in the event.
- ✗
Extend the Lambda function timeout to 30 minutes.
Why it's wrong here
Lambda's maximum timeout is 15 minutes, so a 30-minute timeout is not possible.
- ✓
Configure S3 to send event notifications to the Lambda function.
Why this is correct
S3 can trigger Lambda directly via event notifications when a new object is created, which is a simple and cost-effective integration.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Set the Lambda function timeout to 15 minutes.
Why this is correct
Lambda supports up to 15 minutes of execution time, which covers the expected processing time.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
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 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.
- →
Design for New Solutions — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Design for New Solutions practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SAP-C02 questions
1,746 questions across all exam domains
- →
AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SAP-C02 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SAP-C02 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity practice questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity.
Design for New Solutions practice questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to Design for New Solutions.
Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions practice questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions.
Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization practice questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization.
SAA-C03 VPC practice questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 VPC.
SAA-C03 S3 lifecycle policy questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 S3 lifecycle policy questions.
SAA-C03 RDS Multi-AZ questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 RDS Multi-AZ questions.
SAA-C03 IAM policy practice questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 IAM policy.
SAA-C03 Route 53 failover questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 Route 53 failover questions.
SAA-C03 CloudFront practice questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 CloudFront.
SAA-C03 NAT gateway questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 NAT gateway questions.
SAA-C03 VPC endpoint questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 VPC endpoint questions.
Practice this exam
Start a free SAP-C02 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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 S3 to send event notifications to the Lambda function. — The correct answers are A and C. Option A is correct because Lambda's maximum execution timeout is 15 minutes, which meets the processing time requirement. Option C is correct because using S3 event notifications to invoke Lambda directly is a simple, cost-effective integration. Option B is wrong because Lambda has a maximum payload size of 128 KB for synchronous invocation, but for S3 events, the payload size limit is 128 KB; however, the file itself is stored in S3, and Lambda reads it using the S3 API, so the 1 GB file is not passed as an event payload. The event notification contains only metadata. Option D is wrong because Lambda does not support mounting EFS by default in all regions; it requires a VPC configuration and is not needed here. Option E is wrong because extending Lambda timeout to 30 minutes is not possible as the maximum is 15 minutes.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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 →
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.