- A
Reduce the batch size in the Lambda event source mapping.
Why wrong: Reducing the batch size does not address the timeout issue, as the Lambda function can still time out on individual messages.
- B
Increase the Lambda function's reserved concurrency and timeout.
Increasing reserved concurrency allows Lambda to scale to handle the burst, and increasing the timeout prevents timeouts during processing, thus reducing reprocessing.
- C
Increase the SQS visibility timeout to 6 minutes.
Why wrong: Increasing the SQS visibility timeout does not prevent the Lambda function from timing out; it merely extends the time the message is invisible, but if the function times out, the message becomes visible again and is reprocessed.
- D
Configure a dead-letter queue for the SQS queue.
Why wrong: Configuring a dead-letter queue does not prevent reprocessing; it only captures messages that have failed after a maximum number of retries, which does not address the timeout issue.
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 has a serverless application using AWS Lambda functions that process messages from an Amazon SQS queue. The queue receives a burst of messages daily. The Lambda function sometimes times out, causing messages to return to the queue and be reprocessed. How can the company improve the application to handle the burst without reprocessing failures?
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
Increase the Lambda function's reserved concurrency and timeout.
Option B is correct because increasing the reserved concurrency ensures Lambda can scale to handle the burst, and increasing the timeout allows the function to complete processing without timing out. Option A is wrong because reducing the batch size may reduce the number of messages processed per invocation but does not address the timeout issue. Option C is wrong because increasing the SQS visibility timeout would cause messages to be delayed before becoming visible again after a timeout, but it does not solve the root cause of the Lambda function timing out; it just delays reprocessing. Option D is wrong because a dead-letter queue is used to capture messages that repeatedly fail processing after maximum retries, not to prevent reprocessing of timeout failures.
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.
- ✗
Reduce the batch size in the Lambda event source mapping.
Why it's wrong here
Reducing the batch size does not address the timeout issue, as the Lambda function can still time out on individual messages.
- ✓
Increase the Lambda function's reserved concurrency and timeout.
Why this is correct
Increasing reserved concurrency allows Lambda to scale to handle the burst, and increasing the timeout prevents timeouts during processing, thus reducing reprocessing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Increase the SQS visibility timeout to 6 minutes.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing the SQS visibility timeout does not prevent the Lambda function from timing out; it merely extends the time the message is invisible, but if the function times out, the message becomes visible again and is reprocessed.
- ✗
Configure a dead-letter queue for the SQS queue.
Why it's wrong here
Configuring a dead-letter queue does not prevent reprocessing; it only captures messages that have failed after a maximum number of retries, which does not address the timeout issue.
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.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
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: Increase the Lambda function's reserved concurrency and timeout. — Option B is correct because increasing the reserved concurrency ensures Lambda can scale to handle the burst, and increasing the timeout allows the function to complete processing without timing out. Option A is wrong because reducing the batch size may reduce the number of messages processed per invocation but does not address the timeout issue. Option C is wrong because increasing the SQS visibility timeout would cause messages to be delayed before becoming visible again after a timeout, but it does not solve the root cause of the Lambda function timing out; it just delays reprocessing. Option D is wrong because a dead-letter queue is used to capture messages that repeatedly fail processing after maximum retries, not to prevent reprocessing of timeout failures.
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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