Quick Answer
The answer is Amazon DynamoDB, as it is purpose-built for storing small configuration data items under 10 KB with single-digit millisecond latency and native multi-AZ high availability. This aligns perfectly with the need for low latency configuration data storage in microservices on AWS, where each service requires fast, durable access to frequently read and written settings without the overhead of relational joins or caching volatility. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between storage services optimized for different access patterns—DynamoDB excels here because it combines consistent low latency with managed replication across Availability Zones, while S3 introduces higher latency for small objects and ElastiCache sacrifices durability. A common trap is choosing ElastiCache for speed, but remember: configuration data must persist, not just be cached. Memory tip: think “Dynamo for durable, low-latency configs—small data, big speed.”
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 microservices architecture on AWS. Each service needs to store and retrieve small amounts of configuration data (under 10 KB per item) with low latency. The data is accessed frequently and must be highly available across multiple Availability Zones. Which AWS service should be used?
Amazon S3
Why wrong: S3 is object storage with higher latency for small objects and not ideal for frequent updates.
Amazon ElastiCache for Memcached
Why wrong: ElastiCache is for temporary caching, not durable storage.
Amazon RDS for MySQL
Why wrong: RDS is a relational database, overkill for simple config data.
Amazon DynamoDB
DynamoDB offers low latency, high availability, and is suitable for small configuration data.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Amazon DynamoDB
Option C is correct because DynamoDB provides single-digit millisecond latency, high availability, and is ideal for storing small configuration items. Option A (S3) has higher latency for small objects and is not optimized for frequent updates. Option B (ElastiCache) is for temporary caching, not durable storage. Option D (RDS) is overkill for simple config data.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Amazon S3
Why it's wrong here
S3 is object storage with higher latency for small objects and not ideal for frequent updates.
Amazon ElastiCache for Memcached
Why it's wrong here
ElastiCache is for temporary caching, not durable storage.
Amazon RDS for MySQL
Why it's wrong here
RDS is a relational database, overkill for simple config data.
Amazon DynamoDB
Why this is correct
DynamoDB offers low latency, high availability, and is suitable for small configuration data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
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
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to Design for New Solutions.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 VPC.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 S3 lifecycle policy questions.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 RDS Multi-AZ questions.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 IAM policy.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 Route 53 failover questions.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 CloudFront.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 NAT gateway questions.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 VPC endpoint questions.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Design for New Solutions — This question tests Design for New Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Amazon DynamoDB — Option C is correct because DynamoDB provides single-digit millisecond latency, high availability, and is ideal for storing small configuration items. Option A (S3) has higher latency for small objects and is not optimized for frequent updates. Option B (ElastiCache) is for temporary caching, not durable storage. Option D (RDS) is overkill for simple config data.
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.
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.