- A
Use a target tracking scaling policy based on average CPU utilization.
Target tracking automatically adjusts capacity to maintain a target metric, handling spikes.
- B
Increase the instance size to handle more load per instance.
Why wrong: Larger instances may still be overwhelmed; horizontal scaling is more effective.
- C
Manually increase the desired capacity when traffic spikes.
Why wrong: Manual intervention is not automated and may not react quickly enough.
- D
Use scheduled scaling to add instances at expected peak times.
Why wrong: Scheduled scaling is for predictable patterns, not sudden spikes.
Question 260 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 runs a web application on EC2 instances in an Auto Scaling group behind an Application Load Balancer. The application experiences sudden traffic spikes. What is the most effective way to ensure the application can handle the spikes without manual intervention?
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 a target tracking scaling policy based on average CPU utilization.
A target tracking scaling policy based on average CPU utilization is the most effective approach because it automatically adjusts the Auto Scaling group's desired capacity in real-time to maintain a target CPU metric (e.g., 50%). This dynamic scaling method responds directly to sudden traffic spikes without any manual intervention, ensuring the application can handle increased load while optimizing cost.
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 a target tracking scaling policy based on average CPU utilization.
Why this is correct
Target tracking automatically adjusts capacity to maintain a target metric, handling spikes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Increase the instance size to handle more load per instance.
Why it's wrong here
Larger instances may still be overwhelmed; horizontal scaling is more effective.
- ✗
Manually increase the desired capacity when traffic spikes.
Why it's wrong here
Manual intervention is not automated and may not react quickly enough.
- ✗
Use scheduled scaling to add instances at expected peak times.
Why it's wrong here
Scheduled scaling is for predictable patterns, not sudden spikes.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse scheduled scaling (which works only for predictable patterns) with dynamic scaling (which reacts to real-time metrics), leading them to choose D instead of A for handling sudden, unplanned traffic spikes.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Target tracking scaling policies work by continuously monitoring the specified CloudWatch metric (e.g., CPUUtilization) and calculating the number of instances needed to keep the metric at the target value. The Auto Scaling service uses a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller algorithm to smooth out fluctuations and avoid thrashing, making it ideal for handling sudden spikes without manual intervention. In contrast, simple scaling policies (step scaling) require predefined step adjustments and can be less responsive to rapid changes.
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 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 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: Use a target tracking scaling policy based on average CPU utilization. — A target tracking scaling policy based on average CPU utilization is the most effective approach because it automatically adjusts the Auto Scaling group's desired capacity in real-time to maintain a target CPU metric (e.g., 50%). This dynamic scaling method responds directly to sudden traffic spikes without any manual intervention, ensuring the application can handle increased load while optimizing cost.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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