- A
Add an Amazon ElastiCache Redis cluster in front of DynamoDB to cache session data.
Why wrong: ElastiCache can cache data but requires application changes to implement caching logic; DAX is simpler for DynamoDB.
- B
Use an Auto Scaling group to add more EC2 instances during peak hours.
Why wrong: Auto Scaling increases capacity but does not reduce latency for each read request.
- C
Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) for the session table.
DAX provides an in-memory cache for DynamoDB, reducing read latency without application changes.
- D
Increase the size of the EC2 instances to handle more concurrent users.
Why wrong: Larger instances may improve compute capacity but do not directly reduce DynamoDB read latency.
Question 817 of 1,746
SAP-C02 Design for New Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design for new solutions. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 startup is deploying a web application on Amazon EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer. The application stores session state in an Amazon DynamoDB table. To improve performance, the team wants to reduce latency for read-heavy workloads. Which design change would be MOST effective?
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
✓
Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) for the session table.
Option C is correct because DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) is a fully managed, in-memory cache specifically designed for Amazon DynamoDB. It reduces read latency from single-digit milliseconds to microseconds by caching frequently accessed items, making it ideal for read-heavy session state workloads without requiring application-level cache management.
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.
- ✗
Add an Amazon ElastiCache Redis cluster in front of DynamoDB to cache session data.
Why it's wrong here
ElastiCache can cache data but requires application changes to implement caching logic; DAX is simpler for DynamoDB.
- ✗
Use an Auto Scaling group to add more EC2 instances during peak hours.
Why it's wrong here
Auto Scaling increases capacity but does not reduce latency for each read request.
- ✓
Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) for the session table.
Why this is correct
DAX provides an in-memory cache for DynamoDB, reducing read latency without application changes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Increase the size of the EC2 instances to handle more concurrent users.
Why it's wrong here
Larger instances may improve compute capacity but do not directly reduce DynamoDB read latency.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose ElastiCache Redis (Option A) because it is a general-purpose cache, but they overlook that DAX is purpose-built for DynamoDB and eliminates the need for custom cache invalidation logic, making it the most effective and operationally simpler choice for this specific use case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DAX operates as an in-memory cache that intercepts DynamoDB API calls (GetItem, Query, Scan) and serves cached results with microsecond latency, while write operations (PutItem, UpdateItem) are written through to DynamoDB and asynchronously updated in the cache. Under the hood, DAX uses a cluster of nodes with a primary node handling writes and read replicas for scaling read throughput, and it supports TTL-based item expiration to automatically evict stale session data. In a real-world scenario, a startup with a read-heavy session store would see DAX reduce p99 latency from ~10 ms to under 1 ms, directly improving user experience without code changes.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) for the session table. — Option C is correct because DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) is a fully managed, in-memory cache specifically designed for Amazon DynamoDB. It reduces read latency from single-digit milliseconds to microseconds by caching frequently accessed items, making it ideal for read-heavy session state workloads without requiring application-level cache management.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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