- A
The instance is using EBS-optimized with insufficient bandwidth
Why wrong: EBS optimization does not affect CPU credits.
- B
The SAP application is using too much memory
Why wrong: Memory usage doesn't deplete CPU credits.
- C
The instance has a high network throughput causing CPU overhead
Why wrong: Network throughput does not directly deplete CPU credits.
- D
The instance is a burstable performance instance (e.g., T3) not an r5
Burstable instances earn CPU credits; r5 instances do not have CPU credits.
Question 1,526 of 1,733
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 is troubleshooting a performance issue on an SAP HANA instance running on an EC2 instance. The instance type is r5.8xlarge with 256 GB of RAM. The administrator notices that the instance's CPU credit balance is depleting rapidly. What is the most likely cause?
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 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
✓
The instance is a burstable performance instance (e.g., T3) not an r5
The r5.8xlarge is a standard, non-burstable instance that provides consistent CPU performance and does not use CPU credits. A rapidly depleting CPU credit balance is a characteristic of burstable performance instances (T3, T2, etc.), which accumulate and consume CPU credits based on workload. Therefore, the most likely cause is that the instance is actually a burstable performance instance (e.g., T3) rather than an r5, as the r5 family does not have a CPU credit mechanism.
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 instance is using EBS-optimized with insufficient bandwidth
Why it's wrong here
EBS optimization does not affect CPU credits.
- ✗
The SAP application is using too much memory
Why it's wrong here
Memory usage doesn't deplete CPU credits.
- ✗
The instance has a high network throughput causing CPU overhead
Why it's wrong here
Network throughput does not directly deplete CPU credits.
- ✓
The instance is a burstable performance instance (e.g., T3) not an r5
Why this is correct
Burstable instances earn CPU credits; r5 instances do not have CPU credits.
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.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse CPU credit depletion with general performance issues like high CPU utilization, memory pressure, or network overhead, rather than recognizing that CPU credits are a unique feature of burstable instance families (T3, T2) and not applicable to standard instances like r5.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Burstable performance instances (T3, T3a, T2) use a CPU credit mechanism where each vCPU earns credits at a baseline rate (e.g., T3.large earns 36 credits per hour at 30% baseline) and spends credits when CPU usage exceeds the baseline. The CPU credit balance depletes when the instance consistently runs above the baseline, leading to throttled CPU performance if credits run out. In contrast, r5 instances are dedicated performance instances that provide fixed CPU resources and do not have a credit system, so a depleting credit balance is a clear indicator of a misidentified instance type.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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?
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 instance is a burstable performance instance (e.g., T3) not an r5 — The r5.8xlarge is a standard, non-burstable instance that provides consistent CPU performance and does not use CPU credits. A rapidly depleting CPU credit balance is a characteristic of burstable performance instances (T3, T2, etc.), which accumulate and consume CPU credits based on workload. Therefore, the most likely cause is that the instance is actually a burstable performance instance (e.g., T3) rather than an r5, as the r5 family does not have a CPU credit mechanism.
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.
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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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