The answer is the instance must be SAP-certified, provide sufficient memory, and deliver high network bandwidth. SAP HANA is an in-memory database, so the EC2 instance must appear on the official SAP HANA certified instance list to guarantee compatibility and support, while the memory size must match or exceed the HANA workload’s data and delta store requirements. Additionally, high network bandwidth is critical for HANA system replication, backup traffic, and client access, as these operations are network-intensive and latency-sensitive. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding that SAP HANA production systems cannot use instance store volumes (which are ephemeral) and do not require GPU acceleration; the common trap is confusing storage types or assuming GPU is needed for standard HANA. A reliable memory tip is “Cert, RAM, and Network” — think of the three pillars of HANA on AWS: certification, memory sizing, and network throughput.
PAS-C01 Technology Practice Question
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of technology. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
Which THREE factors should be considered when choosing an EC2 instance type for an SAP HANA production system? (Choose three.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The instance type must be certified by SAP for HANA.
Options A, C, and D are correct. SAP HANA requires certified instance types (A), sufficient memory (C), and high network bandwidth (D). Option B is wrong because HANA uses dedicated storage, not instance store. Option E is wrong because GPU is not required for standard HANA.
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 type must be certified by SAP for HANA.
Why this is correct
Only certified instances are supported for production HANA.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The instance type should include instance store volumes for data persistence.
Why it's wrong here
Instance store is ephemeral; HANA uses EBS.
✗
The instance must include GPU acceleration for HANA operations.
Why it's wrong here
GPU is not used by standard HANA.
✓
The instance must have enough memory to accommodate the HANA database.
Why this is correct
HANA is memory-constrained and requires sufficient RAM.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
The instance should provide high network bandwidth for replication and client access.
Why this is correct
High network throughput is needed for HANA system replication and client communication.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which PAS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: The instance type must be certified by SAP for HANA. — Options A, C, and D are correct. SAP HANA requires certified instance types (A), sufficient memory (C), and high network bandwidth (D). Option B is wrong because HANA uses dedicated storage, not instance store. Option E is wrong because GPU is not required for standard HANA.
What should I do if I get this PAS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which PAS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which THREE factors should be considered when choosing an EC2 instance type for an SAP HANA production system? (Choose three.)
medium
A.GPU capabilities for parallel processing.
✓ B.Amount of memory (RAM) required.
✓ C.Network throughput and latency.
D.Support for EBS optimization.
✓ E.Processor architecture (Intel/AMD vs ARM).
Why B: Options A, B, and E are correct. Option A: Memory is critical for HANA. Option B: Network performance impacts throughput. Option E: Intel/AMD vs ARM affects HANA certification. Option C is wrong because EBS optimization is not a primary factor. Option D is wrong because GPU is not relevant for HANA.
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.