Quick Answer
The answer is a target tracking scaling policy. This policy is the correct choice because it dynamically adjusts the number of EC2 instances to maintain a specified target value for a CloudWatch metric, such as average CPU utilization or request count per target, making it highly responsive to sudden traffic spikes without requiring manual intervention. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to automate elasticity for unpredictable load patterns, often contrasting it with scheduled scaling for predictable events or simple scaling, which can be too slow to react. A common trap is confusing target tracking with step scaling; remember that target tracking is ideal for sudden spikes because it continuously adapts to real-time demand, whereas step scaling requires predefined thresholds that may lag. Memory tip: “Target tracks the metric, so spikes don’t panic.”
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 will run on EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer. The application must handle sudden spikes in traffic without manual intervention. Which scaling strategy should be used?
Manual scaling by operations team
Why wrong: Manual scaling is not automated.
Simple scaling with a cooldown period
Why wrong: Simple scaling may not keep up with rapid changes.
Scheduled scaling based on historical data
Why wrong: Scheduled scaling cannot handle sudden spikes.
Target tracking scaling policy
Target tracking dynamically adjusts capacity to maintain a metric target.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Target tracking scaling policy
Option C is correct because a target tracking scaling policy automatically adjusts capacity based on a CloudWatch metric. Option A is wrong because scheduled scaling is for predictable patterns. Option B is wrong because simple scaling is less responsive. Option D is wrong because manual scaling is not automated.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Manual scaling by operations team
Why it's wrong here
Manual scaling is not automated.
Simple scaling with a cooldown period
Why it's wrong here
Simple scaling may not keep up with rapid changes.
Scheduled scaling based on historical data
Why it's wrong here
Scheduled scaling cannot handle sudden spikes.
Target tracking scaling policy
Common exam traps
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SAP-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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FAQ
Design for New Solutions — This question tests Design for New Solutions — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
The correct answer is: Target tracking scaling policy — Option C is correct because a target tracking scaling policy automatically adjusts capacity based on a CloudWatch metric. Option A is wrong because scheduled scaling is for predictable patterns. Option B is wrong because simple scaling is less responsive. Option D is wrong because manual scaling is not automated.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SAP-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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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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