The answer is to use Amazon EMR with EC2 instances of similar size to your on-premises nodes, such as r5.8xlarge, and store data in Amazon S3 via EMRFS. This configuration minimizes costs by decoupling compute from storage—S3 is far cheaper and more durable than HDFS on EC2—while maintaining performance because the instance type matches your existing resource profile. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of cost-optimized migration patterns, specifically the principle that you should avoid replicating on-premises architectures (like HDFS) in the cloud. A common trap is choosing Graviton instances solely for lower price without verifying Spark workload compatibility, or selecting Spot Instances for all nodes, which risks task failure. Remember the memory tip: “S3 for storage, similar compute for speed—don’t bring HDFS to the cloud.”
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 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 using EMR with EC2 instances comparable to the on-premises nodes (e.g., r5.8xlarge) and storing data in S3 (with EMRFS) is cost-effective and scalable. Option B is wrong because EMR with Graviton instances may be cheaper but performance may vary; also, using HDFS is not cost-effective as it requires EC2 storage. Option C is wrong because AWS Glue is a serverless ETL service, not suitable for running custom Spark applications with specific resource requirements. Option D is wrong because using Spot Instances for all nodes risks interruptions; a mix is better.
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
S3 is cost-effective and scalable; EMRFS provides consistency.
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
HDFS is not cost-effective; EBS volumes add cost.
✗
Use EMR with a mix of On-Demand and Spot Instances, and use S3 for all data storage.
Why it's wrong here
Option A is more straightforward and cost-effective; this option is also valid but less optimal as it doesn't specify instance size.
✗
Use AWS Glue to run the Spark jobs with the same resource configuration.
Why it's wrong here
Glue is serverless and may not provide the same level of control and performance.
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.
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 using EMR with EC2 instances comparable to the on-premises nodes (e.g., r5.8xlarge) and storing data in S3 (with EMRFS) is cost-effective and scalable. Option B is wrong because EMR with Graviton instances may be cheaper but performance may vary; also, using HDFS is not cost-effective as it requires EC2 storage. Option C is wrong because AWS Glue is a serverless ETL service, not suitable for running custom Spark applications with specific resource requirements. Option D is wrong because using Spot Instances for all nodes risks interruptions; a mix is better.
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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Question Discussion
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