- A
Use EMR with EC2 instances of similar size (e.g., r5.8xlarge) and store data in Amazon S3 using EMRFS.
Correct. Using EMR with r5.8xlarge instances closely matches the on-premises resources (64 vCPUs, 256 GB RAM per node) and using S3 with EMRFS eliminates HDFS overhead, reducing costs and management effort while maintaining performance via Direct Connect.
- B
Use EMR with Graviton-based instances and store intermediate data in HDFS on EBS volumes.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Graviton-based instances may not be fully compatible with all Apache Spark workloads and could require code changes. Additionally, storing intermediate data in HDFS on EBS volumes adds cost and complexity, and does not leverage S3's durability or cost advantages.
- C
Use EMR with a mix of On-Demand and Spot Instances, and use S3 for all data storage.
Why wrong: Incorrect. While mixing On-Demand and Spot Instances can reduce compute costs, this option still requires managing the EMR cluster and does not optimize storage costs. Using S3 for all data storage is not inherently wrong, but the question asks for the EMR configuration that minimizes costs while maintaining performance; option A provides a more direct resource mapping and simpler architecture.
- D
Use AWS Glue to run the Spark jobs with the same resource configuration.
Why wrong: Incorrect. AWS Glue is a serverless ETL service, but for a large-scale daily workload with terabytes of data, Glue may incur higher costs than EMR, and it offers less control over cluster configuration and performance tuning. The question specifically asks for an EMR configuration, so Glue is not an appropriate choice.
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of accelerate workload migration and modernization. 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 migrating a large-scale data analytics workload from on-premises to AWS. The workload uses Apache Spark to process terabytes of data daily. The company wants to use Amazon EMR for the migration. The current on-premises cluster has 20 nodes, each with 64 vCPUs and 256 GB of RAM. The data is stored in HDFS on the cluster. The company wants to minimize costs while maintaining performance. The data sources are in Amazon S3 and on-premises. The company has set up a dedicated AWS Direct Connect connection. Which EMR configuration should the company use?
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
Use EMR with EC2 instances of similar size (e.g., r5.8xlarge) and store data in Amazon S3 using EMRFS.
Option A is correct because it directly maps the on-premises cluster capacity to equivalent EC2 instances (r5.8xlarge provides 32 vCPUs and 256 GB RAM, so two per node would match the 64 vCPUs and 256 GB RAM). Storing data in S3 via EMRFS eliminates HDFS management and leverages S3 durability and scalability. This configuration minimizes costs by avoiding over-provisioning and using S3 for cost-effective storage, while maintaining performance through Direct Connect for data transfer. Using EMR with similar instance sizes ensures the Spark jobs run efficiently without reconfiguration. Other options introduce unnecessary complexity or higher costs: Option B uses Graviton-based instances which may require code changes, and storing intermediate data on EBS volumes incurs additional costs and management overhead. Option C mixes On-Demand and Spot Instances, which can reduce costs but still requires cluster management and does not align with the goal of minimizing costs while maintaining performance as effectively as option A. Option D uses AWS Glue, which is a fully managed service but may not provide the same level of control or performance for large-scale workloads; it may also be more expensive for sustained high-volume processing compared to EMR with reserved capacity.
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.
- ✓
Use EMR with EC2 instances of similar size (e.g., r5.8xlarge) and store data in Amazon S3 using EMRFS.
Why this is correct
Correct. Using EMR with r5.8xlarge instances closely matches the on-premises resources (64 vCPUs, 256 GB RAM per node) and using S3 with EMRFS eliminates HDFS overhead, reducing costs and management effort while maintaining performance via Direct Connect.
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.
- ✗
Use EMR with Graviton-based instances and store intermediate data in HDFS on EBS volumes.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Graviton-based instances may not be fully compatible with all Apache Spark workloads and could require code changes. Additionally, storing intermediate data in HDFS on EBS volumes adds cost and complexity, and does not leverage S3's durability or cost advantages.
- ✗
Use EMR with a mix of On-Demand and Spot Instances, and use S3 for all data storage.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. While mixing On-Demand and Spot Instances can reduce compute costs, this option still requires managing the EMR cluster and does not optimize storage costs. Using S3 for all data storage is not inherently wrong, but the question asks for the EMR configuration that minimizes costs while maintaining performance; option A provides a more direct resource mapping and simpler architecture.
- ✗
Use AWS Glue to run the Spark jobs with the same resource configuration.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. AWS Glue is a serverless ETL service, but for a large-scale daily workload with terabytes of data, Glue may incur higher costs than EMR, and it offers less control over cluster configuration and performance tuning. The question specifically asks for an EMR configuration, so Glue is not an appropriate choice.
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
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
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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Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
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: Use EMR with EC2 instances of similar size (e.g., r5.8xlarge) and store data in Amazon S3 using EMRFS. — Option A is correct because it directly maps the on-premises cluster capacity to equivalent EC2 instances (r5.8xlarge provides 32 vCPUs and 256 GB RAM, so two per node would match the 64 vCPUs and 256 GB RAM). Storing data in S3 via EMRFS eliminates HDFS management and leverages S3 durability and scalability. This configuration minimizes costs by avoiding over-provisioning and using S3 for cost-effective storage, while maintaining performance through Direct Connect for data transfer. Using EMR with similar instance sizes ensures the Spark jobs run efficiently without reconfiguration. Other options introduce unnecessary complexity or higher costs: Option B uses Graviton-based instances which may require code changes, and storing intermediate data on EBS volumes incurs additional costs and management overhead. Option C mixes On-Demand and Spot Instances, which can reduce costs but still requires cluster management and does not align with the goal of minimizing costs while maintaining performance as effectively as option A. Option D uses AWS Glue, which is a fully managed service but may not provide the same level of control or performance for large-scale workloads; it may also be more expensive for sustained high-volume processing compared to EMR with reserved capacity.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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