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Cost and Performance Optimization →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is using Amazon Aurora Global Database to create read replicas in other regions, combined with a target tracking scaling policy based on request count per target. This solution directly addresses global application performance by placing low-latency read replicas closer to remote users, reducing the round-trip time for dynamic database queries, while the request-count-based scaling policy reacts more quickly to traffic spikes than CPU utilization, preventing performance degradation. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this question tests your ability to pair global database read scaling with responsive compute scaling—a common scenario where administrators mistakenly focus on vertical scaling or single-region fixes. A key trap is assuming ElastiCache or predictive scaling alone solves global latency, but Aurora Global Database is purpose-built for cross-region reads with minimal cost overhead. Memory tip: think “global reads, local writes, request-based scaling for spikes.”

SOA-C02 Cost and Performance Optimization Practice Question

This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of cost and performance optimization. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 hosts a multi-tier web application on AWS. The application consists of an Application Load Balancer (ALB), a fleet of Amazon EC2 instances running in an Auto Scaling group, and an Amazon RDS for MySQL database. The application is accessed by users worldwide. Recently, the company has expanded to new geographic regions, and users in those regions are experiencing high latency. The SysOps administrator is tasked with optimizing performance for global users while keeping costs low. The administrator has already implemented Amazon CloudFront as a CDN for static content. However, dynamic content that requires database queries is still slow. The application's Auto Scaling group is configured with a dynamic scaling policy based on average CPU utilization, but the scaling is not responsive enough during traffic spikes, causing performance degradation. Additionally, the database is a single db.r5.large instance in the us-east-1 region, and all traffic must hit that database, causing high latency for remote users. The administrator needs to propose a comprehensive solution that addresses both compute and database performance issues globally, while considering cost. Which solution is MOST effective?

Question 1hardmultiple choice

Full question →

A
Increase the minimum and maximum size of the Auto Scaling group and use a step scaling policy based on memory utilization.
Why wrong: This does not solve the database latency issue for global users.
B
Use Amazon Aurora Global Database to create read replicas in other regions, and configure the Auto Scaling group with a target tracking scaling policy based on request count per target.
Aurora Global Database provides low-latency reads globally, and request-based scaling is more responsive.
C
Implement Amazon ElastiCache for Redis to cache database queries, and use predictive scaling for the Auto Scaling group.
Why wrong: Caching helps but does not reduce latency for cache misses; predictive scaling may not handle spikes.
D
Use larger EC2 instances (e.g., c5.2xlarge) for the application tier and provision a Multi-AZ RDS instance for better performance.
Why wrong: Larger instances increase cost without addressing global latency.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Use Amazon Aurora Global Database to create read replicas in other regions, and configure the Auto Scaling group with a target tracking scaling policy based on request count per target.

Option D is correct because using Aurora Global Database provides a low-latency global read replica for the dynamic content, and using a target tracking scaling policy based on request count per target is more responsive than CPU-based scaling for web applications. Option A is wrong because increasing instance sizes is expensive and does not address global latency. Option B is wrong because adding more instances in a single region does not reduce latency for global users. Option C is wrong because using ElastiCache can reduce database load but does not reduce latency for write operations, and predictive scaling may not be accurate for unpredictable spikes.

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.

✗
Increase the minimum and maximum size of the Auto Scaling group and use a step scaling policy based on memory utilization.
Why it's wrong here
This does not solve the database latency issue for global users.
✓
Use Amazon Aurora Global Database to create read replicas in other regions, and configure the Auto Scaling group with a target tracking scaling policy based on request count per target.
Why this is correct
Aurora Global Database provides low-latency reads globally, and request-based scaling is more responsive.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Implement Amazon ElastiCache for Redis to cache database queries, and use predictive scaling for the Auto Scaling group.
Why it's wrong here
Caching helps but does not reduce latency for cache misses; predictive scaling may not handle spikes.
✗
Use larger EC2 instances (e.g., c5.2xlarge) for the application tier and provision a Multi-AZ RDS instance for better performance.
Why it's wrong here
Larger instances increase cost without addressing global latency.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

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

How to think about this question

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.

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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.

TExam Day Tips

Underline the problem statement mentally.
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 SOA-C02 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

Questions learners often ask

What does this SOA-C02 question test?

Cost and Performance Optimization — This question tests Cost and Performance Optimization — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Use Amazon Aurora Global Database to create read replicas in other regions, and configure the Auto Scaling group with a target tracking scaling policy based on request count per target. — Option D is correct because using Aurora Global Database provides a low-latency global read replica for the dynamic content, and using a target tracking scaling policy based on request count per target is more responsive than CPU-based scaling for web applications. Option A is wrong because increasing instance sizes is expensive and does not address global latency. Option B is wrong because adding more instances in a single region does not reduce latency for global users. Option C is wrong because using ElastiCache can reduce database load but does not reduce latency for write operations, and predictive scaling may not be accurate for unpredictable spikes.

What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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This SOA-C02 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 SOA-C02 exam.