- A
Implement an Amazon ElastiCache Redis cluster to cache frequent database queries.
Why wrong: Caching reduces load but requires application changes and may not be suitable for all read queries.
- B
Increase the DB instance class to a larger size and enable Multi-AZ with synchronous replication.
Why wrong: Scaling up helps but is not as scalable as read replicas; Multi-AZ does not improve read performance.
- C
Migrate the database to Amazon DynamoDB and use DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) for read performance.
Why wrong: Migrating to DynamoDB is a major change; DAX is for DynamoDB, not MySQL.
- D
Create one or more Amazon RDS Read Replicas in the same region and configure the application to route read queries to the read replica endpoint.
Read replicas offload read traffic from the primary, improving performance for read-heavy workloads.
Quick Answer
The answer is to create one or more Amazon RDS Read Replicas in the same region and configure the application to route read queries to the read replica endpoint. This directly addresses the need to reduce CPU utilization on the primary database by offloading the heavy read traffic—given the 80:20 read-to-write ratio—to dedicated read replicas, which handle SELECT queries without impacting the writer instance. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of scaling database reads versus scaling vertically; a common trap is choosing a larger instance class (Option B), which only postpones the bottleneck and fails to distribute read load. Another trap is selecting ElastiCache (Option C), which is for caching specific query results, not for general read offloading of an RDS database. Remember the memory tip: "Read replicas for reads, Multi-AZ for writes"—if the problem mentions high CPU from read traffic, think replicas first.
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 runs a critical e-commerce platform on AWS. The application is deployed across multiple Availability Zones in a single region (us-east-1). The architecture includes an Application Load Balancer (ALB), an EC2 Auto Scaling group, and an Amazon RDS for MySQL Multi-AZ database. The application experiences periodic spikes in traffic, and the Auto Scaling group scales out successfully. However, during a recent traffic spike, the database CPU utilization reached 90%, causing increased latency and some database connection timeouts. The company needs to improve the database performance to handle the spikes without over-provisioning. The solutions architect must design a solution that reduces the load on the primary database instance and improves read scalability. The application is read-heavy, with a read-to-write ratio of 80:20. Which solution should the architect implement?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"primary"Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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
Create one or more Amazon RDS Read Replicas in the same region and configure the application to route read queries to the read replica endpoint.
Amazon RDS Read Replicas can offload read traffic from the primary instance, reducing CPU utilization. The application must be configured to use the reader endpoint for read queries. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because scaling up the instance class vertically has limits and may not be cost-effective; it also doesn't provide read scalability. Option C is wrong because ElastiCache is for caching, not for offloading database reads; it requires application changes and may not support all query patterns. Option D is wrong because DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) is for DynamoDB, not RDS MySQL.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Implement an Amazon ElastiCache Redis cluster to cache frequent database queries.
Why it's wrong here
Caching reduces load but requires application changes and may not be suitable for all read queries.
- ✗
Increase the DB instance class to a larger size and enable Multi-AZ with synchronous replication.
Why it's wrong here
Scaling up helps but is not as scalable as read replicas; Multi-AZ does not improve read performance.
- ✗
Migrate the database to Amazon DynamoDB and use DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) for read performance.
Why it's wrong here
Migrating to DynamoDB is a major change; DAX is for DynamoDB, not MySQL.
- ✓
Create one or more Amazon RDS Read Replicas in the same region and configure the application to route read queries to the read replica endpoint.
Why this is correct
Read replicas offload read traffic from the primary, improving performance for read-heavy workloads.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SAP-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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Design for New Solutions — study guide chapter
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Design for New Solutions practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
Design for New Solutions — This question tests Design for New Solutions — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create one or more Amazon RDS Read Replicas in the same region and configure the application to route read queries to the read replica endpoint. — Amazon RDS Read Replicas can offload read traffic from the primary instance, reducing CPU utilization. The application must be configured to use the reader endpoint for read queries. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because scaling up the instance class vertically has limits and may not be cost-effective; it also doesn't provide read scalability. Option C is wrong because ElastiCache is for caching, not for offloading database reads; it requires application changes and may not support all query patterns. Option D is wrong because DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) is for DynamoDB, not RDS MySQL.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SAP-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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