PAS-C01 Technology Practice Question
An SAP application on EC2 is experiencing high CPU utilization. The instance is part of an Auto Scaling group. The CPU metric shows spikes every hour. Which scaling policy should be used to preemptively scale out before the spike?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates choose reactive policies (like target tracking or step scaling) because they focus on CPU thresholds, missing the key requirement for preemptive scaling based on a predictable, time-based pattern.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Scheduled scaling policy to add capacity just before the spike
The CPU spikes are predictable (every hour), making a scheduled scaling policy the ideal choice to preemptively add capacity just before the spike occurs. Scheduled scaling allows you to define a specific time to increase the desired capacity of the Auto Scaling group, ensuring resources are available before the load increases, rather than reacting after the spike has started.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Simple scaling policy based on CPU > 80%
Why it's wrong here
Simple scaling reacts after the threshold is breached, not before.
- ✗
Step scaling policy with multiple thresholds
Why it's wrong here
Step scaling also reacts to alarms, not preemptively.
- ✗
Target tracking scaling policy with CPU target 75%
Why it's wrong here
Target tracking adjusts based on current load, not predictive.
- ✓
Scheduled scaling policy to add capacity just before the spike
Why this is correct
Scheduled scaling can anticipate predictable patterns.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.