The answer is the Backint agent consuming CPU and I/O resources, causing contention. This is correct because the Backint backup agent runs on the same EC2 instance as the SAP HANA database, competing directly for CPU cycles and EBS I/O bandwidth during the backup window. Even with RAID 0 striping across multiple EBS io1 volumes, the agent’s intensive read and write operations spike write latency above 50 ms, starving the database of resources and triggering application timeouts. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that Backint backups are not offloaded to a separate process or instance—they share the host’s resources. A common trap is to blame EBS volume limits or S3 performance, but the real bottleneck is local resource contention. Memory tip: “Backint bites the CPU” — remember that the agent and database are siblings fighting for the same toys.
PAS-C01 Technology Practice Question
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of technology. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 its SAP ERP system on AWS with an SAP HANA database on an EC2 instance. The database is configured with multiple EBS io1 volumes striped in a RAID 0. Recently, the company implemented a new backup process using AWS Backup with the Backint agent. However, during the backup window, the database performance degrades significantly, causing application timeouts. The database administrator checks CloudWatch metrics and sees that the EBS write latency spikes to over 50 ms during backups. The backup target is an S3 bucket in the same region. The EC2 instance type is r5.4xlarge with EBS-optimized enabled. What is the MOST likely cause of the performance degradation?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The Backint agent is consuming CPU and I/O resources, causing contention.
Option D is correct because Backint backups can consume significant CPU and I/O, impacting database performance. Option A (EBS volume limit) is unlikely with RAID 0. Option B (matching instance type) is not needed. Option C (S3 performance) is not the bottleneck.
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 Backint agent is consuming CPU and I/O resources, causing contention.
Why this is correct
Backint runs on the HANA host and uses resources, impacting performance.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The EBS volumes have reached the provisioned IOPS limit of 20,000 IOPS.
Why it's wrong here
The volumes are striped; the aggregate IOPS is higher.
✗
The S3 bucket is in a different region, causing network latency.
Why it's wrong here
The bucket is in the same region.
✗
The EC2 instance type does not match the requirements for Backint.
Why it's wrong here
Backint does not require a specific instance type.
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: The Backint agent is consuming CPU and I/O resources, causing contention. — Option D is correct because Backint backups can consume significant CPU and I/O, impacting database performance. Option A (EBS volume limit) is unlikely with RAID 0. Option B (matching instance type) is not needed. Option C (S3 performance) is not the bottleneck.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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