Quick Answer
The answer is that the EBS volumes are not provisioned with enough IOPS, as this is the most likely cause of SAP performance slow after AWS migration due to insufficient EBS IOPS. Even when the EC2 instance type is SAP-certified and correctly sized, the underlying storage performance—measured in IOPS—directly dictates how quickly the database can read and write data. SAP ERP systems are I/O-intensive, and if the EBS volumes are using gp2 or gp3 with burst credits exhausted, or if io1/io2 volumes are under-provisioned, the application will stall. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that storage configuration is a separate concern from compute sizing; a common trap is assuming the instance type alone guarantees performance. Remember the memory tip: "Instance fit, but storage split"—the instance may be correct, but insufficient IOPS will still cripple SAP throughput.
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.
During a migration of an SAP ERP system to AWS, the team notices that the SAP application performance is slow on the new EC2 instances. The instance type is correct for SAP certification. 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.
Instances are in different placement groups
Why wrong: Placement groups affect network latency, not necessarily performance.
Incorrect EC2 instance type
Why wrong: The instance type is correct per SAP certification.
Security group rules are blocking traffic
Why wrong: Security groups affect connectivity, not performance.
EBS volumes are not provisioned with enough IOPS
Insufficient IOPS leads to storage bottlenecks and slow performance.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
EBS volumes are not provisioned with enough IOPS
Storage performance, specifically IOPS, often impacts SAP performance. Even if the instance type is correct, if the EBS volumes are not provisioned with sufficient IOPS, performance will suffer. Option D is correct. Option A (incorrect instance type) is not the issue. Option B (placement group) could be an issue but is less likely. Option C (security group) wouldn't cause performance issues.
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.
Instances are in different placement groups
Why it's wrong here
Placement groups affect network latency, not necessarily performance.
Incorrect EC2 instance type
Why it's wrong here
The instance type is correct per SAP certification.
Security group rules are blocking traffic
Why it's wrong here
Security groups affect connectivity, not performance.
EBS volumes are not provisioned with enough IOPS
Why this is correct
Insufficient IOPS leads to storage bottlenecks and slow performance.
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
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.
Migration — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Migration — This question tests Migration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: EBS volumes are not provisioned with enough IOPS — Storage performance, specifically IOPS, often impacts SAP performance. Even if the instance type is correct, if the EBS volumes are not provisioned with sufficient IOPS, performance will suffer. Option D is correct. Option A (incorrect instance type) is not the issue. Option B (placement group) could be an issue but is less likely. Option C (security group) wouldn't cause performance issues.
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.
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Same concept, more angles
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. During the migration of an SAP NetWeaver system, the team notices that the application server performance is degraded after migrating to AWS. The system uses AWS EBS volumes for storage. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the performance degradation?
mediumWhy A: If EBS volumes are not provisioned with sufficient IOPS, the application server may experience performance degradation. EBS-optimized instances and appropriate volume types are important. EBS volumes are typically designed for durability, and encryption does not cause performance degradation.
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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