The correct solution is to store the website files in an S3 bucket configured for static website hosting and use Amazon CloudFront as a CDN, because this combination delivers the lowest cost, global low latency, and high availability for static content without provisioning any servers. S3 handles the storage and serving of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and images at a fraction of the cost of compute services, while CloudFront caches the content at edge locations worldwide, ensuring fast load times for users globally. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between cost-optimized, serverless architectures and over-provisioned compute solutions—a common trap is choosing EC2 or Elastic Beanstalk for static sites, which adds unnecessary complexity and expense. Remember the memory tip: for static content, think “S3 + CloudFront = cheap and global,” and avoid any service that starts a virtual machine.
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 small business wants to host a simple static website on AWS. The website consists of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and images. The company expects low traffic and wants to minimize costs. The website must be highly available and load quickly for users globally. Which solution should a Solutions Architect recommend?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Store the website files in an S3 bucket configured for static website hosting, and use Amazon CloudFront as a CDN.
Option C is correct because S3 static website hosting with CloudFront provides low cost, high availability, and global low latency. Option A is wrong because EC2 instances are overkill and expensive for static content. Option B is wrong because Lightsail is more expensive than S3 for static sites. Option D is wrong because Elastic Beanstalk is designed for dynamic web apps, not static sites.
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.
✓
Store the website files in an S3 bucket configured for static website hosting, and use Amazon CloudFront as a CDN.
Why this is correct
S3 static hosting is very low cost, highly available, and CloudFront provides global performance.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Host the website on Amazon Lightsail with a load balancer and two instances.
Why it's wrong here
Lightsail is more expensive and complex than S3 static hosting for a simple site.
✗
Host the website on a single EC2 instance running Apache web server, with an Elastic IP address.
Why it's wrong here
A single EC2 instance is not highly available and costs more than S3 for static content.
✗
Deploy the website on AWS Elastic Beanstalk with a single EC2 instance.
Why it's wrong here
Elastic Beanstalk is for dynamic applications; for static content, S3 is simpler and cheaper.
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.
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.
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: Store the website files in an S3 bucket configured for static website hosting, and use Amazon CloudFront as a CDN. — Option C is correct because S3 static website hosting with CloudFront provides low cost, high availability, and global low latency. Option A is wrong because EC2 instances are overkill and expensive for static content. Option B is wrong because Lightsail is more expensive than S3 for static sites. Option D is wrong because Elastic Beanstalk is designed for dynamic web apps, not static sites.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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