The correct answer is to provision EBS volumes with sufficient IOPS for the HANA workload, alongside ensuring the instance memory supports an appropriate RAM-to-data ratio. This is critical because SAP HANA is an in-memory database where all active data must reside in RAM; if the memory is undersized, the database will fail to load or perform poorly. The RAM:data ratio must typically be 1:4 or 1:8, depending on compression and workload, and AWS offers certified instance families like x1e and u-6tb1 that meet these memory requirements. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between compute sizing and storage performance—a common trap is focusing only on instance type while ignoring that HANA’s log and data volumes demand specific IOPS thresholds for production throughput. Remember the mnemonic “RAM first, IOPS second” to avoid missing the dual requirement of memory ratio and storage performance.
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. 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.
Which TWO are required considerations when sizing an SAP HANA instance on AWS for a production environment? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Ensure the instance has enough memory to hold the HANA data in memory (RAM:data ratio).
Option C is correct because SAP HANA is an in-memory database that requires all active data to reside in RAM. The RAM:data ratio must be carefully sized to ensure the instance has enough memory to hold the HANA data and log volumes in memory, typically with a 1:4 or 1:8 ratio depending on compression and workload. AWS provides specific instance types (e.g., x1e, u-6tb1) certified for SAP HANA that meet these memory requirements.
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.
✗
Provision instance store volumes for HANA data and log areas.
Why it's wrong here
Instance store is ephemeral; HANA requires persistent storage like EBS.
✗
Purchase Reserved Instances for the HANA server to reduce costs.
Why it's wrong here
Reserved Instances are a billing option, not a sizing requirement.
✓
Ensure the instance has enough memory to hold the HANA data in memory (RAM:data ratio).
Why this is correct
HANA is in-memory; data must fit in RAM for performance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Provision EBS volumes with sufficient IOPS for the HANA workload.
Why this is correct
IOPS provisioning is essential for HANA performance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Select an RDS instance type that supports SAP HANA.
Why it's wrong here
SAP HANA on AWS runs on EC2, not RDS.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse storage persistence requirements with instance store vs. EBS, or mistakenly think RDS can host SAP HANA, when in fact SAP HANA requires certified EC2 instances and specific EBS configurations for production workloads.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SAP HANA's in-memory architecture means the working set must fit entirely in RAM to avoid disk swaps, which would severely degrade performance. AWS SAP HANA certified instances (e.g., x1e.32xlarge with 3,904 GiB RAM) enforce a strict memory-to-data ratio, and the HANA data volume is typically stored on EBS gp3 or io2 Block Express volumes with provisioned IOPS to match the memory bandwidth. Real-world scenarios often require over-provisioning memory by 20-30% to account for system overhead and growth.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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: Ensure the instance has enough memory to hold the HANA data in memory (RAM:data ratio). — Option C is correct because SAP HANA is an in-memory database that requires all active data to reside in RAM. The RAM:data ratio must be carefully sized to ensure the instance has enough memory to hold the HANA data and log volumes in memory, typically with a 1:4 or 1:8 ratio depending on compression and workload. AWS provides specific instance types (e.g., x1e, u-6tb1) certified for SAP HANA that meet these memory requirements.
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.
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 sizing an EC2 instance for SAP HANA? (Choose THREE.)
medium
✓ A.Total memory available on the instance
B.GPU acceleration for HANA calculations
✓ C.SAP HANA certification of the instance type
✓ D.vCPU and network throughput requirements
E.Instance store availability for HANA data
Why A: SAP HANA certification, memory requirements, and vCPU/network performance are key. Option D is wrong because instance store is not persistent. Option E is wrong because GPU is not required for most SAP HANA workloads.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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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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