The three factors to consider when selecting an EC2 instance type for SAP HANA are certified instance types, sufficient memory (RAM) for the database, and high network bandwidth for system replication. SAP HANA is an in-memory database, meaning all active data must reside in RAM, so the instance’s memory capacity directly determines database size and performance. Additionally, SAP publishes a specific list of certified EC2 instance types that have been validated for HANA workloads, ensuring compatibility and support. High network bandwidth is critical for SAP HANA system replication, which synchronously or asynchronously copies data between instances for high availability. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding that GPU instances are not required for HANA, and while EBS optimization is beneficial, it is not a primary selection factor—the instance type itself dictates EBS support. A common trap is confusing general-purpose compute needs with HANA’s memory-bound architecture. Remember the mnemonic: “Memory, Certification, and Replication—the three pillars of HANA selection.”
PAS-C01 Migration Practice Question
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of migration. 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 company is migrating a SAP HANA database to AWS. Which THREE factors should be considered when choosing the EC2 instance type for SAP HANA?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The instance must be listed in the SAP HANA certified instance list.
Correct options are A, B, and D. SAP HANA requires certified instance types, sufficient memory (RAM) for the database, and high network bandwidth for replication. Option C is wrong because GPU is not typically required for HANA. Option E is wrong because EBS-optimized instances are a separate attribute, but not a primary factor; the instance type itself may support EBS optimization.
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.
✓
The instance must be listed in the SAP HANA certified instance list.
Why this is correct
Only certified instances support HANA.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
The instance must have enough memory (RAM) to hold the entire HANA database.
Why this is correct
HANA is an in-memory database.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The instance must have a GPU for accelerated processing.
Why it's wrong here
HANA does not require GPU.
✗
The instance must be EBS-optimized by default.
Why it's wrong here
EBS optimization is a feature, not a requirement for HANA.
✓
The instance must have high network bandwidth for SAP HANA system replication.
Why this is correct
Network bandwidth is critical for replication.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which PAS-C01 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.
Migration — This question tests Migration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The instance must be listed in the SAP HANA certified instance list. — Correct options are A, B, and D. SAP HANA requires certified instance types, sufficient memory (RAM) for the database, and high network bandwidth for replication. Option C is wrong because GPU is not typically required for HANA. Option E is wrong because EBS-optimized instances are a separate attribute, but not a primary factor; the instance type itself may support EBS optimization.
What should I do if I get this PAS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which PAS-C01 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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company is planning to migrate an SAP HANA database to AWS. Which THREE factors should the company consider when selecting an EC2 instance type for the SAP HANA database?
easy
A.The instance type must support burstable performance
✓ B.The instance must be EBS-optimized
C.The instance must be based on the AWS Nitro System
✓ D.The instance type must be memory-optimized (e.g., r5, r6i, x1e)
✓ E.The instance type must be listed in the SAP Certified Instance Types for SAP HANA
Why B: Options A, B, and D are correct. SAP HANA requires memory-optimized instances from the SAP Certified Instance Types list. EBS-optimized instances are required for dedicated EBS bandwidth. Option C (burstable performance) is not suitable. Option E (Nitro-based) is preferred but not a strict requirement.
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
Question Discussion
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This PAS-C01 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 PAS-C01 exam.
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