- A
Enable API Gateway caching with a suitable TTL
Caching reduces backend load and improves response times for repeated requests, helping handle spikes.
- B
Set the Lambda function timeout to the maximum value of 15 minutes
Why wrong: Increasing timeout does not help with scaling; it only allows functions to run longer. It may even lead to higher costs.
- C
Configure provisioned concurrency for the Lambda functions
Provisioned concurrency keeps a number of execution environments initialized and ready to respond, reducing cold starts and improving latency during traffic spikes.
- D
Configure DynamoDB auto scaling with a minimum capacity of 10 read and 10 write capacity units
Why wrong: Auto scaling adjusts capacity based on utilization but can lag behind sudden spikes. On-demand is better for unpredictable traffic.
- E
Use DynamoDB on-demand capacity mode for the tables
On-demand capacity automatically scales to handle any amount of traffic without capacity planning, ideal for unpredictable spikes.
Quick Answer
The answer is to use DynamoDB on-demand capacity mode, enable API Gateway caching with an appropriate TTL, and configure Lambda concurrency limits with reserved concurrency. DynamoDB on-demand instantly scales to handle unpredictable traffic spikes without throttling, directly supporting high availability and low latency by eliminating provisioning delays. API Gateway caching reduces backend calls by serving repeated requests from the cache, which lowers latency and protects Lambda and DynamoDB from sudden load bursts. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty exam, this question tests your understanding of serverless scaling patterns under unpredictable workloads—a common trap is choosing provisioned capacity for DynamoDB, which can throttle during spikes. Remember the memory tip: “Cache, On-Demand, and Reserve” — cache with API Gateway, use on-demand for DynamoDB, and reserve concurrency for Lambda to prevent cold starts and overload. This triad ensures your serverless application remains responsive and available even when traffic surges unexpectedly.
PAS-C01 Technology Practice Question
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of technology. 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.
A company is deploying a serverless application using AWS Lambda, Amazon API Gateway, and Amazon DynamoDB. The application must meet high availability and low latency requirements. The company expects traffic to spike unpredictably. Which THREE strategies should the company implement to ensure the application can handle the load? (Choose THREE.)
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
Enable API Gateway caching with a suitable TTL
Option A is correct because API Gateway caching stores responses from your endpoints, reducing the number of calls made to the backend Lambda function and DynamoDB. By setting a suitable TTL, you ensure that frequently accessed data is served from the cache, which lowers latency and offloads the backend during unpredictable traffic spikes. This directly supports high availability by preventing backend overload.
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.
- ✓
Enable API Gateway caching with a suitable TTL
Why this is correct
Caching reduces backend load and improves response times for repeated requests, helping handle spikes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Set the Lambda function timeout to the maximum value of 15 minutes
Why it's wrong here
Increasing timeout does not help with scaling; it only allows functions to run longer. It may even lead to higher costs.
- ✓
Configure provisioned concurrency for the Lambda functions
Why this is correct
Provisioned concurrency keeps a number of execution environments initialized and ready to respond, reducing cold starts and improving latency during traffic spikes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure DynamoDB auto scaling with a minimum capacity of 10 read and 10 write capacity units
Why it's wrong here
Auto scaling adjusts capacity based on utilization but can lag behind sudden spikes. On-demand is better for unpredictable traffic.
- ✓
Use DynamoDB on-demand capacity mode for the tables
Why this is correct
On-demand capacity automatically scales to handle any amount of traffic without capacity planning, ideal for unpredictable spikes.
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 auto scaling (Option D) with on-demand capacity mode, not realizing that auto scaling has a lag time and requires manual capacity planning, whereas on-demand mode is designed for unpredictable traffic with instant scaling.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
API Gateway caching works by storing responses in a dedicated cache cluster (e.g., 0.5 GB to 237 GB) and serving them for subsequent identical requests within the TTL, which can be set per-stage or per-method. Provisioned concurrency (Option C) keeps a specified number of Lambda execution environments initialized and ready to respond immediately, eliminating cold starts and ensuring consistent latency under load. DynamoDB on-demand capacity mode (Option E) automatically accommodates up to 3000 read and 1000 write request units per second per partition without prior provisioning, making it ideal for spiky workloads.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
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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: Enable API Gateway caching with a suitable TTL — Option A is correct because API Gateway caching stores responses from your endpoints, reducing the number of calls made to the backend Lambda function and DynamoDB. By setting a suitable TTL, you ensure that frequently accessed data is served from the cache, which lowers latency and offloads the backend during unpredictable traffic spikes. This directly supports high availability by preventing backend overload.
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.
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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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