- A
Configure Amazon RDS Multi-AZ for high availability.
Why wrong: Multi-AZ provides high availability but does not reduce database load.
- B
Use Auto Scaling for the web server tier to handle variable traffic.
Why wrong: Auto Scaling improves scalability but does not directly reduce database load.
- C
Use Amazon ElastiCache to store session data instead of the database.
Storing session data in ElastiCache reduces database write load and improves performance.
- D
Use Amazon RDS read replicas to offload read traffic from the primary database.
Why wrong: Read replicas offload read traffic but are not the most effective for reducing session-related load.
- E
Use Amazon ElastiCache to cache frequently accessed database queries.
Caching database queries reduces read load on the database and improves response times.
Quick Answer
The answer is to use Amazon ElastiCache for session management and to cache frequently accessed database queries. Storing session data in a MySQL database creates unnecessary write load and latency because sessions are transient, requiring constant reads and writes that compete with persistent business data. By offloading session state to ElastiCache—an in-memory key-value store using Memcached or Redis—you eliminate this bottleneck, reducing database load and improving application scalability. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of decoupling stateful data from relational databases to meet high-availability and performance requirements. A common trap is to suggest scaling the database vertically or adding read replicas, which still leave session writes hitting the primary. Remember the memory tip: “Sessions are fleeting, so keep them in memory, not on disk.”
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.
A company is migrating a legacy three-tier web application to AWS. The application uses a MySQL database and stores session data in the database. The company wants to minimize database load and improve scalability. Which TWO actions should the company take to achieve these goals?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
Use Amazon ElastiCache to store session data instead of the database.
Option C is correct because storing session data in the database creates unnecessary write load and latency. Amazon ElastiCache (Memcached or Redis) provides an in-memory key-value store that is ideal for transient session data, reducing database load and improving application scalability by offloading session management from the persistent MySQL layer.
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.
- ✗
Configure Amazon RDS Multi-AZ for high availability.
Why it's wrong here
Multi-AZ provides high availability but does not reduce database load.
- ✗
Use Auto Scaling for the web server tier to handle variable traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Auto Scaling improves scalability but does not directly reduce database load.
- ✓
Use Amazon ElastiCache to store session data instead of the database.
Why this is correct
Storing session data in ElastiCache reduces database write load and improves performance.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use Amazon RDS read replicas to offload read traffic from the primary database.
Why it's wrong here
Read replicas offload read traffic but are not the most effective for reducing session-related load.
- ✓
Use Amazon ElastiCache to cache frequently accessed database queries.
Why this is correct
Caching database queries reduces read load on the database and improves response times.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" 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 often confuse high-availability features (Multi-AZ) or read-scaling (read replicas) with load reduction, failing to recognize that session data is write-heavy and requires a dedicated in-memory store like ElastiCache to truly minimize database load.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, ElastiCache for Redis uses a single-threaded event loop with sub-millisecond latency for SET/GET operations, making it ideal for session state management with TTL-based expiration. In contrast, MySQL row-level locking and disk I/O for each session write create contention under high concurrency. A real-world scenario: an e-commerce site with 10,000 concurrent users storing session data in MySQL can cause lock waits and connection pool exhaustion, whereas ElastiCache handles the same load with minimal overhead and no disk writes.
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 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.
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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: Use Amazon ElastiCache to store session data instead of the database. — Option C is correct because storing session data in the database creates unnecessary write load and latency. Amazon ElastiCache (Memcached or Redis) provides an in-memory key-value store that is ideal for transient session data, reducing database load and improving application scalability by offloading session management from the persistent MySQL layer.
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: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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.
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