- A
Use AWS Transfer Family for SFTP, store files in Amazon S3, and use AWS Batch with Fargate launch type to process files in parallel.
Why wrong: AWS Batch with Fargate has limits on concurrent jobs and is less cost-effective for long-running jobs.
- B
Use AWS Transfer Family for SFTP, store files in Amazon S3, and use AWS Lambda functions triggered by S3 events to process each file.
Why wrong: Lambda has a 15-minute timeout; file processing may exceed that.
- C
Use AWS Transfer Family for SFTP, store files in Amazon S3, and configure a single EC2 instance to poll S3 for new files and process them sequentially.
Why wrong: Single instance does not improve throughput; still sequential.
- D
Use AWS Transfer Family for SFTP, store files in Amazon S3, configure an S3 event notification to publish messages to an Amazon SQS queue, and use an Auto Scaling group of EC2 instances to process messages from the queue.
SQS decouples and scales processing; Auto Scaling based on queue depth improves throughput.
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of accelerate workload migration and modernization. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 batch processing system from on-premises to AWS. The system processes hundreds of thousands of files daily, each file being a few MB in size. The files are received via SFTP and need to be processed within 4 hours. The company wants to use AWS services to build a fully managed, scalable, and cost-effective solution. The current on-premises system uses a single server with a scheduled task that processes files sequentially. The migration should improve throughput and reduce processing time. Which architecture should the company implement?
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 AWS Transfer Family for SFTP, store files in Amazon S3, configure an S3 event notification to publish messages to an Amazon SQS queue, and use an Auto Scaling group of EC2 instances to process messages from the queue.
Option D is correct because it uses AWS Transfer Family for managed SFTP, stores files in S3, and then leverages S3 event notifications to send messages to an SQS queue. An Auto Scaling group of EC2 instances can then process messages from the queue, scaling based on queue depth (e.g., using CloudWatch alarms). This provides scalable, parallel processing, improving throughput over the on-premises sequential system. Option A is incorrect because AWS Batch with Fargate may incur higher costs for long-running jobs and is subject to concurrency limits. Option B is incorrect because AWS Lambda has a 15-minute timeout and is not suitable for files that may take longer to process, and also may not be cost-effective for high-volume processing. Option C is incorrect because a single EC2 instance processes sequentially, similar to on-premises, and does not improve throughput.
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 AWS Transfer Family for SFTP, store files in Amazon S3, and use AWS Batch with Fargate launch type to process files in parallel.
Why it's wrong here
AWS Batch with Fargate has limits on concurrent jobs and is less cost-effective for long-running jobs.
- ✗
Use AWS Transfer Family for SFTP, store files in Amazon S3, and use AWS Lambda functions triggered by S3 events to process each file.
Why it's wrong here
Lambda has a 15-minute timeout; file processing may exceed that.
- ✗
Use AWS Transfer Family for SFTP, store files in Amazon S3, and configure a single EC2 instance to poll S3 for new files and process them sequentially.
Why it's wrong here
Single instance does not improve throughput; still sequential.
- ✓
Use AWS Transfer Family for SFTP, store files in Amazon S3, configure an S3 event notification to publish messages to an Amazon SQS queue, and use an Auto Scaling group of EC2 instances to process messages from the queue.
Why this is correct
SQS decouples and scales processing; Auto Scaling based on queue depth improves throughput.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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.
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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 AWS Transfer Family for SFTP, store files in Amazon S3, configure an S3 event notification to publish messages to an Amazon SQS queue, and use an Auto Scaling group of EC2 instances to process messages from the queue. — Option D is correct because it uses AWS Transfer Family for managed SFTP, stores files in S3, and then leverages S3 event notifications to send messages to an SQS queue. An Auto Scaling group of EC2 instances can then process messages from the queue, scaling based on queue depth (e.g., using CloudWatch alarms). This provides scalable, parallel processing, improving throughput over the on-premises sequential system. Option A is incorrect because AWS Batch with Fargate may incur higher costs for long-running jobs and is subject to concurrency limits. Option B is incorrect because AWS Lambda has a 15-minute timeout and is not suitable for files that may take longer to process, and also may not be cost-effective for high-volume processing. Option C is incorrect because a single EC2 instance processes sequentially, similar to on-premises, and does not improve throughput.
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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