Quick Answer
The answer is Amazon EBS io2 Block Express volumes for the SAP HANA data volume. This storage solution delivers up to 256,000 IOPS and sub-millisecond latency, which directly meets SAP HANA’s strict latency requirements and high IOPS demands for data persistence. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding that SAP HANA requires block-level storage with consistent, ultra-low latency—not general-purpose or file-based options. A common trap is choosing gp3, which offers good performance but cannot match io2 Block Express’s guaranteed IOPS ceiling for large-scale HANA systems. Remember, Amazon EFS and S3 are incorrect because they are file and object stores, respectively, not block storage for database volumes. Memory tip: think “io2 for IOPS” and “Block Express for extreme express performance” on SAP HANA.
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of migration. 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 migrating a large SAP HANA system to AWS. The SAP system has strict latency requirements for storage and requires high IOPS. Which storage solution should be used for the SAP HANA data volume?
Amazon S3
Why wrong: S3 is object storage, not block storage; cannot be used for HANA data volumes.
Amazon EBS io2 Block Express volumes
io2 Block Express delivers up to 256K IOPS and low latency, meeting HANA requirements.
Amazon EFS
Why wrong: EFS is a file system, not block storage; not suitable for HANA data volumes.
Amazon EBS gp3 volumes
Why wrong: gp3 provides up to 16K IOPS, insufficient for large HANA systems.
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
SAP HANA on AWS requires high-performance storage. io2 Block Express volumes provide up to 256K IOPS and sub-millisecond latency, meeting HANA's requirements. Option A (gp3) is general purpose but not as high performance. Option C (Amazon EFS) is file storage, not block. Option D (Amazon S3) is object storage, not suitable.
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 S3
Why it's wrong here
S3 is object storage, not block storage; cannot be used for HANA data volumes.
Amazon EBS io2 Block Express volumes
Why this is correct
io2 Block Express delivers up to 256K IOPS and low latency, meeting HANA requirements.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Amazon EFS
Why it's wrong here
EFS is a file system, not block storage; not suitable for HANA data volumes.
Amazon EBS gp3 volumes
Why it's wrong here
gp3 provides up to 16K IOPS, insufficient for large HANA systems.
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 — SAP HANA on AWS requires high-performance storage. io2 Block Express volumes provide up to 256K IOPS and sub-millisecond latency, meeting HANA's requirements. Option A (gp3) is general purpose but not as high performance. Option C (Amazon EFS) is file storage, not block. Option D (Amazon S3) is object storage, not suitable.
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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