- A
AWS OpsWorks
Why wrong: OpsWorks is for configuration management, not scheduling.
- B
AWS Lambda with custom code
Why wrong: Lambda can be used but requires custom development; Instance Scheduler is a turnkey solution.
- C
AWS Instance Scheduler
Instance Scheduler is a ready-made solution that uses Lambda and DynamoDB to start/stop instances.
- D
Amazon CloudWatch Events
Why wrong: CloudWatch Events can trigger Lambda, but the Instance Scheduler is the recommended approach.
PAS-C01 Technology Practice Question
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of technology. 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 needs to automate the start and stop of SAP applications in non-production environments to reduce costs. The SAP systems run on multiple EC2 instances. Which AWS service can be used to schedule start and stop actions?
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
AWS Instance Scheduler
AWS Instance Scheduler is a purpose-built solution that automates the start and stop of EC2 instances based on a defined schedule, making it ideal for reducing costs in non-production SAP environments. It uses AWS CloudFormation to deploy a scheduler that triggers Lambda functions to stop and start instances at specified times, and it natively supports tagging to identify which instances to manage, without requiring custom code.
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.
- ✗
AWS OpsWorks
Why it's wrong here
OpsWorks is for configuration management, not scheduling.
- ✗
AWS Lambda with custom code
Why it's wrong here
Lambda can be used but requires custom development; Instance Scheduler is a turnkey solution.
- ✓
AWS Instance Scheduler
Why this is correct
Instance Scheduler is a ready-made solution that uses Lambda and DynamoDB to start/stop instances.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Amazon CloudWatch Events
Why it's wrong here
CloudWatch Events can trigger Lambda, but the Instance Scheduler is the recommended approach.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose AWS Lambda with custom code (Option B) because they know Lambda can be scheduled with CloudWatch Events, but they overlook that AWS Instance Scheduler is a pre-built, managed solution that eliminates the need for custom development and maintenance, which is the most cost-effective and reliable approach for this specific use case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS Instance Scheduler is deployed via a CloudFormation template that creates a DynamoDB table to store schedule definitions, a Lambda function that runs periodically (e.g., every 5 minutes) to evaluate instance tags against those schedules, and the necessary IAM roles. The solution supports multiple time zones, custom periods (e.g., stop at 6 PM, start at 8 AM), and can handle instances in Auto Scaling groups or across multiple AWS accounts and Regions. A subtle behavior is that the scheduler uses the 'Schedule' tag key by default, and if an instance is manually started outside the schedule, the Lambda function will stop it again at the next evaluation cycle unless the instance is excluded via a 'do-not-stop' tag.
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.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PAS-C01 question test?
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: AWS Instance Scheduler — AWS Instance Scheduler is a purpose-built solution that automates the start and stop of EC2 instances based on a defined schedule, making it ideal for reducing costs in non-production SAP environments. It uses AWS CloudFormation to deploy a scheduler that triggers Lambda functions to stop and start instances at specified times, and it natively supports tagging to identify which instances to manage, without requiring custom code.
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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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