The correct answer is Amazon EBS gp3 volumes, along with io2 Block Express and instance store, as these three storage options are the only ones supported for SAP HANA data volumes on AWS. This is because SAP HANA requires block-level storage with consistent, high IOPS for OLTP workloads, and both io2 Block Express and gp3 are EBS volume types that deliver the necessary performance and durability, while instance store offers ultra-low latency for temporary data. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of the specific storage requirements for SAP HANA, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly choose Amazon EFS or S3, which are file and object storage respectively and not supported for HANA data volumes. A key memory tip is to remember that HANA data needs block storage only—think “EBS or Instance Store, never EFS or S3.”
PAS-C01 Technology Practice Question
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of technology. 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 planning to migrate its SAP HANA database to AWS. The database is 5 TB in size and requires high IOPS for online transaction processing (OLTP) workloads. Which THREE AWS storage options are suitable for SAP HANA data volumes? (Choose THREE.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
EC2 instance store (NVMe SSD)
Options A, B, and D are correct: io2 Block Express provides high IOPS, instance store provides very low latency, and gp3 can be used for less critical data. Option C is wrong because Amazon EFS is not supported for HANA data. Option E is wrong because S3 is not block storage.
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.
✓
EC2 instance store (NVMe SSD)
Why this is correct
Instance store provides very high IOPS, but data is ephemeral; suitable for /hana/data with replication.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Amazon EBS io2 Block Express volumes
Why this is correct
io2 Block Express supports up to 256,000 IOPS and is SAP-certified for HANA data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Amazon S3
Why it's wrong here
S3 is object storage, not block storage, and cannot be used for HANA data volumes.
✓
Amazon EBS gp3 volumes
Why this is correct
gp3 can be used for /hana/data if IOPS requirements are moderate, but io2 is preferred.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Amazon EFS
Why it's wrong here
EFS is a file system, not block storage, and is not supported for HANA data.
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 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.
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.
Technology — This question tests Technology — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: EC2 instance store (NVMe SSD) — Options A, B, and D are correct: io2 Block Express provides high IOPS, instance store provides very low latency, and gp3 can be used for less critical data. Option C is wrong because Amazon EFS is not supported for HANA data. Option E is wrong because S3 is not block storage.
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
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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 its SAP HANA database to AWS. The database size is 3 TB, and they need high I/O performance with low latency. The SAP workload is critical and requires high availability. Which AWS storage solution should they choose for the HANA data volume?
easy
A.Amazon EBS gp3 volumes.
B.EC2 Instance Store volumes.
C.Amazon EFS with Provisioned Throughput.
✓ D.Amazon EBS io2 Block Express volumes.
Why D: Option C is correct because AWS strongly recommends using io2 Block Express volumes for SAP HANA due to their high performance, durability, and ability to meet SAP's high availability requirements. Option A (EFS) is a file system, not block storage. Option B (gp3) is cost-effective but may not provide the consistent low latency needed for HANA. Option D (Instance Store) provides low latency but is ephemeral and not suitable for persistent data.
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.