The correct choice is to switch to io2 Block Express EBS volumes for the SAP HANA data volume. This is because io2 Block Express delivers consistent, sub-millisecond latency and up to 256,000 IOPS per volume, eliminating the variable performance and burst-credit dependency of gp2 volumes that cause high I/O latency in SAP HANA workloads. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of storage performance requirements for SAP HANA, where predictable low latency is non-negotiable for data volumes. A common trap is choosing gp3, which offers baseline performance but lacks the ultra-low latency and high IOPS ceiling of io2 Block Express. Remember: for SAP HANA data, think “io2 Block Express for express speed”—the name itself hints at the sub-millisecond performance needed to resolve latency issues.
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.
An SAP administrator notices that the SAP HANA database on an EC2 instance is experiencing high I/O latency. The instance is using EBS gp2 volumes. Which change would most effectively reduce I/O latency for the SAP HANA data volume?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Switch to io2 Block Express EBS volumes for the data volume.
Option B is correct because io2 Block Express volumes provide consistent, high-performance IOPS with sub-millisecond latency, which is critical for SAP HANA data volumes. Unlike gp2, which relies on burst credits and has variable performance, io2 Block Express delivers predictable low latency and up to 256,000 IOPS per volume, directly addressing the high I/O latency issue.
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.
✗
Use instance store SSDs for the SAP HANA data volume.
Why it's wrong here
Instance store is ephemeral and not suitable for persistent data.
✓
Switch to io2 Block Express EBS volumes for the data volume.
Why this is correct
io2 Block Express provides sub-millisecond latency and high IOPS.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Increase the size of the EBS gp2 volume to increase baseline IOPS.
Why it's wrong here
This may help but not optimal for latency-sensitive SAP HANA.
✗
Configure RAID 0 across multiple gp2 volumes.
Why it's wrong here
RAID 0 increases throughput but latency remains similar.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume increasing gp2 volume size or using RAID 0 will solve latency issues, but these approaches do not address the fundamental lack of consistent low-latency performance that io2 Block Express provides.
Trap categories for this question
Similar concept trap
RAID 0 increases throughput but latency remains similar.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
io2 Block Express volumes use a Nitro-based architecture with a dedicated NVMe interface, enabling consistent single-digit millisecond latency and up to 4,000 MB/s throughput per volume. In SAP HANA workloads, where log writes and data flushes are latency-sensitive, io2 Block Express eliminates the credit-based performance variability of gp2 and the throughput limitations of standard io2 volumes, making it the recommended EBS volume type for production HANA databases on AWS.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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: Switch to io2 Block Express EBS volumes for the data volume. — Option B is correct because io2 Block Express volumes provide consistent, high-performance IOPS with sub-millisecond latency, which is critical for SAP HANA data volumes. Unlike gp2, which relies on burst credits and has variable performance, io2 Block Express delivers predictable low latency and up to 256,000 IOPS per volume, directly addressing the high I/O latency issue.
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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