The answer is that the untagged data volumes are the potential issue, because AWS Backup relies entirely on resource tags to identify which EBS volumes to include in its backup plans. Without the correct key-value tags matching the backup plan’s selection criteria, AWS Backup will not automatically discover or snapshot /dev/sdf and /dev/sdg, leaving critical SAP HANA data unprotected. This question tests your understanding of AWS Backup’s tag-based resource selection, a core concept for the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, where you must integrate backup automation with SAP HANA’s strict recovery requirements. A common trap is assuming AWS Backup discovers all volumes by default or that the instance’s termination protection flag affects snapshot scheduling—neither is true. Remember the memory tip: “No tag, no snap”—if a volume lacks the backup plan’s tag, AWS Backup simply ignores it, even if the volume is critical for SAP HANA.
PAS-C01 Design of SAP Workloads on AWS Practice Question
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of design of sap workloads on aws. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Network Topology
A systems administrator is troubleshooting an SAP HANA database that runs on an EC2 instance. The exhibit shows the block device mappings of the EC2 instance. The administrator needs to ensure that the data volumes (/dev/sdf and /dev/sdg) are not accidentally terminated when the instance is terminated. However, the administrator also wants to take a nightly snapshot of these volumes using AWS Backup. Which of the following is a potential issue with the current configuration?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The volumes are not tagged, so AWS Backup may not automatically include them in backup plans.
Option D is correct because AWS Backup uses resource tags to identify which resources to include in backup plans. If the volumes /dev/sdf and /dev/sdg are not tagged with the appropriate key-value pairs that match the backup plan's tag-based selection criteria, AWS Backup will not automatically discover and include them in nightly snapshots. This can lead to missing backups for critical SAP HANA data volumes.
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 volume /dev/sdf has DeleteOnTermination set to false, which will cause data persistence issues.
Why it's wrong here
False is the correct setting to prevent data loss.
✗
The device names /dev/sdf and /dev/sdg are reserved for NVMe instance storage and should not be used for EBS.
Why it's wrong here
These device names are valid for EBS.
✗
The volumes are attached to a running instance, which prevents snapshot creation.
Why it's wrong here
Snapshots can be taken of attached volumes.
✓
The volumes are not tagged, so AWS Backup may not automatically include them in backup plans.
Why this is correct
AWS Backup typically uses tags to identify resources.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may overlook AWS Backup's tag-based resource selection and assume that all attached volumes are automatically backed up, or they may confuse DeleteOnTermination behavior with backup inclusion logic.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS Backup relies on tag-based resource assignment; when creating a backup plan, you define IAM roles and tag filters (e.g., 'Backup: true') that automatically select resources. If the volumes lack these tags, they are excluded even if the instance itself is tagged. Additionally, for SAP HANA, consistent snapshots often require coordination with the HANA snapshot API (e.g., hdbsql) to ensure crash consistency, but the core issue here is tag-based discovery failure.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Design of SAP Workloads on AWS — This question tests Design of SAP Workloads on AWS — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The volumes are not tagged, so AWS Backup may not automatically include them in backup plans. — Option D is correct because AWS Backup uses resource tags to identify which resources to include in backup plans. If the volumes /dev/sdf and /dev/sdg are not tagged with the appropriate key-value pairs that match the backup plan's tag-based selection criteria, AWS Backup will not automatically discover and include them in nightly snapshots. This can lead to missing backups for critical SAP HANA data volumes.
What should I do if I get this PAS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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