Quick Answer
The answer is AWS Instance Scheduler, as it is the dedicated AWS solution for automatically starting and stopping EC2 instances on a predefined schedule, making it ideal for reducing costs on non-production SAP systems that only run during business hours. This service works by applying a tag-based schedule to instances, which triggers Lambda functions to stop them after hours and start them again at the beginning of the workday, directly addressing the need to minimize runtime costs without manual intervention. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between cost-optimization tools and operational management services; a common trap is confusing Instance Scheduler with Auto Scaling, which handles capacity scaling based on demand rather than time-based start/stop, or with Systems Manager Maintenance Windows, which are designed for patching and updates. Remember the memory tip: “Schedule for savings, scale for load”—Instance Scheduler is purely about time-based automation to cut costs on dev/test environments.
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of operations and maintenance. 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 running SAP on AWS and needs to reduce the cost of their development and test systems. The systems are only needed during business hours on weekdays. Which AWS service can be used to automatically stop and start the EC2 instances on a schedule?
AWS Instance Scheduler
Instance Scheduler automates start/stop on a schedule.
Amazon EC2 Auto Scaling
Why wrong: Auto Scaling adjusts capacity based on demand, not schedule.
Amazon CloudWatch Alarms
Why wrong: Alarms trigger on metrics, not time-based schedules.
AWS Systems Manager Maintenance Windows
Why wrong: Used for maintenance tasks, not start/stop scheduling.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
AWS Instance Scheduler
Option A is correct because AWS Instance Scheduler is a solution that automatically stops and starts instances based on a schedule. Option B is wrong because Auto Scaling is for scaling, not scheduling. Option C is wrong because Systems Manager Maintenance Windows are for patching. Option D is wrong because CloudWatch Alarms trigger based on metrics, not time-based schedules.
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.
AWS Instance Scheduler
Why this is correct
Instance Scheduler automates start/stop on a schedule.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Amazon EC2 Auto Scaling
Why it's wrong here
Auto Scaling adjusts capacity based on demand, not schedule.
Amazon CloudWatch Alarms
Why it's wrong here
Alarms trigger on metrics, not time-based schedules.
AWS Systems Manager Maintenance Windows
Why it's wrong here
Used for maintenance tasks, not start/stop scheduling.
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 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
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 PAS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Operations and Maintenance — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Operations and Maintenance — This question tests Operations and Maintenance — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
The correct answer is: AWS Instance Scheduler — Option A is correct because AWS Instance Scheduler is a solution that automatically stops and starts instances based on a schedule. Option B is wrong because Auto Scaling is for scaling, not scheduling. Option C is wrong because Systems Manager Maintenance Windows are for patching. Option D is wrong because CloudWatch Alarms trigger based on metrics, not time-based schedules.
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 PAS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Same concept, more angles
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 runs SAP on AWS and wants to reduce costs for non-production environments that are used only during business hours (8 AM to 6 PM). Which action should the administrator take to minimize costs without losing data?
mediumWhy D: Option D is correct because stopping instances when not in use reduces costs, and using Amazon EBS snapshots for backup preserves data. Option A is wrong because reducing instance size may impact performance. Option B is wrong because converting to Reserved Instances is for steady-state usage. Option C is wrong because terminating instances loses data.
Variation 2. A company runs SAP on AWS and wants to reduce costs by stopping non-production instances during off-hours. Which AWS service can automatically start and stop EC2 instances on a schedule?
mediumWhy B: Option D is correct because AWS Instance Scheduler is a solution that automatically starts and stops instances based on a schedule. Option A is wrong because EC2 Auto Scaling is for scaling, not scheduling. Option B is wrong because Systems Manager Maintenance Windows are for patching, not instance scheduling. Option C is wrong because CloudWatch Alarms can trigger actions but not complex schedules.
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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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