Quick Answer
The recommended storage configuration for SAP HANA on AWS is Amazon EBS io2 Block Express volumes. This is correct because SAP HANA is an in-memory database that demands extremely high IOPS and sub-millisecond latency for its data and log volumes, and io2 Block Express delivers up to 256,000 IOPS per volume with consistent single-digit millisecond latency, meeting the strict performance requirements outlined in SAP’s storage guidelines. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of the specific storage types that satisfy SAP HANA’s certified configurations—a common trap is choosing gp2 for its lower cost, but gp2 cannot sustain the high IOPS needed under load, while instance store is ephemeral and S3 is object storage, not block storage. Remember the memory tip: for SAP HANA, think “io2 for IO” because only io2 Block Express provides the guaranteed high IOPS and low latency that HANA’s performance requirements demand.
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of migration. 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.
A company is migrating a SAP HANA database to AWS. Which storage configuration is recommended for SAP HANA to meet performance requirements?
Amazon EC2 instance store volumes
Why wrong: Instance store is temporary and data is lost on stop.
Amazon S3 as a block device
Why wrong: S3 is object storage, not suitable for database files.
Amazon EBS gp2 volumes
Why wrong: gp2 volumes may not provide required IOPS for HANA.
Amazon EBS io2 Block Express volumes
io2 Block Express offers high IOPS and low latency.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Amazon EBS io2 Block Express volumes
Option B is correct because SAP HANA requires high IOPS and low latency, which is best provided by EBS io2 Block Express volumes. Option A is wrong because gp2 does not provide consistent high IOPS. Option C is wrong because instance store is ephemeral. Option D is wrong because S3 is not block storage and cannot be used for database files.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Amazon EC2 instance store volumes
Why it's wrong here
Instance store is temporary and data is lost on stop.
Amazon S3 as a block device
Why it's wrong here
S3 is object storage, not suitable for database files.
Amazon EBS gp2 volumes
Why it's wrong here
gp2 volumes may not provide required IOPS for HANA.
Amazon EBS io2 Block Express volumes
Why this is correct
io2 Block Express offers high IOPS and low latency.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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.
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FAQ
Migration — This question tests Migration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Amazon EBS io2 Block Express volumes — Option B is correct because SAP HANA requires high IOPS and low latency, which is best provided by EBS io2 Block Express volumes. Option A is wrong because gp2 does not provide consistent high IOPS. Option C is wrong because instance store is ephemeral. Option D is wrong because S3 is not block storage and cannot be used for database files.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 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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