Quick Answer
The answer is Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS) and Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS). These two AWS services are the core decoupling services for microservices because they enable asynchronous communication, allowing components to send and process messages without waiting for a direct response. SQS provides a durable message queue where one service can store messages for another to poll and process independently, while SNS offers a pub/sub model that broadcasts messages to multiple subscribers simultaneously, both preventing tight coupling between services. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this concept tests your understanding of integration patterns, often appearing in scenario-based questions where you must choose between polling (SQS) and push-based fan-out (SNS). A common trap is selecting Amazon Kinesis or API Gateway instead, but remember that Kinesis is for real-time streaming, not simple decoupling, and API Gateway is synchronous. Memory tip: SQS is for one-to-one queueing, SNS is for one-to-many broadcasting—think “SQS for single, SNS for shout.”
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.
Which TWO AWS services can be used to decouple components in a new microservices architecture? (Choose two.)
Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS)
SNS is a pub/sub service for decoupling.
AWS Direct Connect
Why wrong: Direct Connect is a dedicated network connection.
Amazon Route 53
Why wrong: Route 53 is a DNS service.
Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS)
SQS is a message queue service for decoupling.
Amazon ElastiCache
Why wrong: ElastiCache is a caching service, not for decoupling.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS)
Amazon SQS (message queue) and Amazon SNS (pub/sub) are both decoupling services that allow asynchronous communication between services.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS)
Why this is correct
SNS is a pub/sub service for decoupling.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AWS Direct Connect
Why it's wrong here
Direct Connect is a dedicated network connection.
Amazon Route 53
Why it's wrong here
Route 53 is a DNS service.
Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS)
Why this is correct
SQS is a message queue service for decoupling.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Amazon ElastiCache
Why it's wrong here
ElastiCache is a caching service, not for decoupling.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. 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
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 — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Design for New Solutions — This question tests Design for New Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS) — Amazon SQS (message queue) and Amazon SNS (pub/sub) are both decoupling services that allow asynchronous communication between services.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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