- A
Use a Network Load Balancer instead of an Application Load Balancer.
Why wrong: NLB does not have session affinity features.
- B
Enable sticky sessions (session affinity) on the Application Load Balancer.
Sticky sessions route user to same instance.
- C
Move session data storage from ElastiCache to an external store that persists across instance termination.
External store like ElastiCache persists across scaling.
- D
Store session data in Amazon DynamoDB.
Why wrong: DynamoDB is an option but not required; ElastiCache can work if configured correctly.
- E
Enable replication in the ElastiCache cluster to handle failover.
Why wrong: Replication doesn't prevent session loss during scale-in.
Question 1,597 of 1,746
SAP-C02 Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of continuous improvement for existing solutions. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 web application on EC2 instances in an Auto Scaling group. The application stores session data in an Amazon ElastiCache for Redis cluster. The operations team reports that after scaling events, users lose their sessions. Which TWO actions should the Solutions Architect take to resolve this issue?
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 sticky sessions (session affinity) on the Application Load Balancer.
Options B and C are correct. Sticky sessions (session affinity) ensure that requests from a user are sent to the same EC2 instance, preventing session loss when the Auto Scaling group adds or removes instances. However, if the instance is terminated, the session data stored in ElastiCache for Redis persists because it is external to the instance. Option A is incorrect because a Network Load Balancer does not support sticky sessions at the application layer and would not solve the problem. Option D is unnecessary as DynamoDB is not required for session persistence. Option E is incorrect because replication in ElastiCache handles failover, not session loss during scaling events.
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 a Network Load Balancer instead of an Application Load Balancer.
Why it's wrong here
NLB does not have session affinity features.
- ✓
Enable sticky sessions (session affinity) on the Application Load Balancer.
Why this is correct
Sticky sessions route user to same instance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Move session data storage from ElastiCache to an external store that persists across instance termination.
Why this is correct
External store like ElastiCache persists across scaling.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Store session data in Amazon DynamoDB.
Why it's wrong here
DynamoDB is an option but not required; ElastiCache can work if configured correctly.
- ✗
Enable replication in the ElastiCache cluster to handle failover.
Why it's wrong here
Replication doesn't prevent session loss during scale-in.
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 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.
Visual reference
Quick reference
OSI Model Reference
| Layer | Name | PDU | Key Protocols / Devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Application | Data | HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, SMTP, FTP, SSH |
| 6 | Presentation | Data | TLS / SSL, JPEG, ASCII encoding |
| 5 | Session | Data | NetBIOS, RPC, SIP |
| 4 | Transport | Segment / Datagram | TCP, UDP |
| 3 | Network | Packet | IP, ICMP, OSPF — Routers |
| 2 | Data Link | Frame | Ethernet, Wi-Fi, PPP — Switches, Bridges |
| 1 | Physical | Bits | Cables, NICs, Hubs, Repeaters |
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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Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — This question tests Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable sticky sessions (session affinity) on the Application Load Balancer. — Options B and C are correct. Sticky sessions (session affinity) ensure that requests from a user are sent to the same EC2 instance, preventing session loss when the Auto Scaling group adds or removes instances. However, if the instance is terminated, the session data stored in ElastiCache for Redis persists because it is external to the instance. Option A is incorrect because a Network Load Balancer does not support sticky sessions at the application layer and would not solve the problem. Option D is unnecessary as DynamoDB is not required for session persistence. Option E is incorrect because replication in ElastiCache handles failover, not session loss during scaling events.
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.
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
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.
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