- A
Increase the 'timeoutSeconds' value in the Step Functions state machine definition to 1800 (30 minutes) or more.
Why wrong: Increasing the state machine timeout to 30 minutes does not solve the issue because the Lambda function itself has a maximum timeout of 15 minutes. The function will time out before the state machine does, and execution will still fail.
- B
Increase the Lambda function timeout to 30 minutes in the Lambda configuration.
Why wrong: The Lambda function timeout is separate from the state machine timeout; increasing it does not prevent the state machine from timing out after 5 minutes.
- C
Increase the Lambda function timeout to 15 minutes and increase the state machine execution timeout to 30 minutes.
Why wrong: Lambda has a maximum timeout of 15 minutes, so setting it to 15 minutes does not cover the 25-minute runtime; the state machine timeout must be increased as in option A.
- D
Replace the Lambda function with an Amazon SQS queue and have the Step Functions wait for a callback.
Replacing the Lambda function with an SQS queue and using a callback pattern allows the long-running download task to be processed asynchronously by a worker that can run for more than 15 minutes, without redesigning the entire pipeline. Step Functions waits for the callback, avoiding both the Lambda timeout and the state machine execution timeout.
SAP-C02 AWS Lambda timeout limit 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. A key principle to apply: aWS Lambda timeout limit. 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 media company runs a video processing pipeline on AWS. The pipeline uses AWS Step Functions to orchestrate multiple AWS Lambda functions. The first Lambda function downloads a video file from an S3 bucket, the second transcodes it using AWS Elemental MediaConvert, and the third uploads the transcoded files to a different S3 bucket. Recently, the pipeline has been failing intermittently with 'State machine execution timed out' errors. The Step Functions execution history shows that the first Lambda function takes up to 25 minutes to complete for large video files. The Step Functions state machine has a default execution timeout of 5 minutes. The company wants to fix the timeout issue without redesigning the entire pipeline. Which solution should the solutions architect recommend?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
Replace the Lambda function with an Amazon SQS queue and have the Step Functions wait for a callback.
Option D is correct because the Lambda function has a maximum timeout of 15 minutes, so increasing the state machine timeout alone (Option A) does not solve the Lambda function's inability to run for 25 minutes. Replacing the Lambda with an SQS queue allows the long-running task to be processed asynchronously, with Step Functions waiting for a callback, avoiding the Lambda timeout limit and the state machine timeout error. Options B and C are invalid because Lambda cannot be configured beyond 15 minutes: setting it to 30 or 15 minutes still fails for a 25-minute task. Option D changes only the problematic component, meeting the requirement to fix the issue without redesigning the entire pipeline.
Key principle: AWS Lambda timeout limit
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Increase the 'timeoutSeconds' value in the Step Functions state machine definition to 1800 (30 minutes) or more.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing the state machine timeout to 30 minutes does not solve the issue because the Lambda function itself has a maximum timeout of 15 minutes. The function will time out before the state machine does, and execution will still fail.
- ✗
Increase the Lambda function timeout to 30 minutes in the Lambda configuration.
Why it's wrong here
The Lambda function timeout is separate from the state machine timeout; increasing it does not prevent the state machine from timing out after 5 minutes.
- ✗
Increase the Lambda function timeout to 15 minutes and increase the state machine execution timeout to 30 minutes.
Why it's wrong here
Lambda has a maximum timeout of 15 minutes, so setting it to 15 minutes does not cover the 25-minute runtime; the state machine timeout must be increased as in option A.
- ✓
Replace the Lambda function with an Amazon SQS queue and have the Step Functions wait for a callback.
Why this is correct
Replacing the Lambda function with an SQS queue and using a callback pattern allows the long-running download task to be processed asynchronously by a worker that can run for more than 15 minutes, without redesigning the entire pipeline. Step Functions waits for the callback, avoiding both the Lambda timeout and the state machine execution timeout.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
AWS Lambda timeout limit
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often forget that Lambda has a hard timeout of 15 minutes. Simply increasing the state machine timeout does not fix the underlying Lambda timeout.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- AWS Lambda timeout limit
- Step Functions execution timeout
- SQS queue with callback
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
AWS Lambda timeout limit
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
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.
Review aWS Lambda timeout limit, then practise related SAP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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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 — AWS Lambda timeout limit.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Replace the Lambda function with an Amazon SQS queue and have the Step Functions wait for a callback. — Option D is correct because the Lambda function has a maximum timeout of 15 minutes, so increasing the state machine timeout alone (Option A) does not solve the Lambda function's inability to run for 25 minutes. Replacing the Lambda with an SQS queue allows the long-running task to be processed asynchronously, with Step Functions waiting for a callback, avoiding the Lambda timeout limit and the state machine timeout error. Options B and C are invalid because Lambda cannot be configured beyond 15 minutes: setting it to 30 or 15 minutes still fails for a 25-minute task. Option D changes only the problematic component, meeting the requirement to fix the issue without redesigning the entire pipeline.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review aWS Lambda timeout limit, then practise related SAP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
AWS Lambda timeout limit
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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