- A
Amazon S3
Why wrong: S3 is object storage, not a file system, and may have higher latency.
- B
Amazon EBS with Provisioned IOPS
Why wrong: EBS volumes cannot be shared across multiple EC2 instances (except Multi-Attach, which is limited).
- C
Amazon S3 Glacier
Why wrong: Glacier is for archival storage, not for active use.
- D
Amazon EFS
EFS is a scalable file system that can be mounted on multiple EC2 instances.
Question 1,008 of 1,746
SAP-C02 Design for New Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design for new solutions. 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 designing a new application that requires low-latency access to a shared dataset across multiple EC2 instances in the same AWS Region. The dataset is updated frequently. Which storage solution should the company use?
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
✓
Amazon EFS
Amazon EFS provides a fully managed, NFS-based shared file system that can be mounted concurrently by multiple EC2 instances across different Availability Zones within the same AWS Region. It offers low-latency access and supports frequent updates through its standard storage class, making it ideal for shared datasets that require consistent, low-latency performance.
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.
- ✗
Amazon S3
Why it's wrong here
S3 is object storage, not a file system, and may have higher latency.
- ✗
Amazon EBS with Provisioned IOPS
Why it's wrong here
EBS volumes cannot be shared across multiple EC2 instances (except Multi-Attach, which is limited).
- ✗
Amazon S3 Glacier
Why it's wrong here
Glacier is for archival storage, not for active use.
- ✓
Amazon EFS
Why this is correct
EFS is a scalable file system that can be mounted on multiple EC2 instances.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse block storage (EBS) with shared file storage, assuming EBS can be attached to multiple instances simultaneously, or they overlook the latency and protocol differences between object storage (S3) and file storage (EFS) for shared, low-latency workloads.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Amazon EFS uses the NFSv4.1 protocol and automatically scales storage capacity and throughput as files are added or modified, providing consistent low-latency performance via a distributed data plane. Under the hood, EFS leverages a cluster of file servers and a metadata layer that ensures strong consistency for reads after writes, which is critical for frequently updated datasets. In a real-world scenario, a containerized microservices application running on EC2 instances across multiple AZs can share configuration files or logs on EFS without needing to implement custom replication logic.
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 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.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Design for New Solutions — study guide chapter
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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: Amazon EFS — Amazon EFS provides a fully managed, NFS-based shared file system that can be mounted concurrently by multiple EC2 instances across different Availability Zones within the same AWS Region. It offers low-latency access and supports frequent updates through its standard storage class, making it ideal for shared datasets that require consistent, low-latency performance.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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