- A
Switch the table to provisioned capacity mode with auto scaling.
Provisioned mode with auto scaling adjusts capacity based on actual usage and is generally cheaper than on-demand for predictable or moderate variability, as long as you don't have extreme spikes.
- B
Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) for caching.
Why wrong: DAX is a caching layer that improves read performance but adds additional cost. It does not reduce the cost of the DynamoDB table itself; in fact, it adds cost.
- C
Implement DynamoDB Global Tables to distribute data across regions.
Why wrong: Global Tables replicate data across multiple regions, which increases write costs and storage costs. It is not a cost optimization measure.
- D
Set a Time to Live (TTL) attribute to automatically expire old items.
Why wrong: TTL helps reduce storage costs by deleting expired items, but it does not affect the read/write capacity costs, which are the main cost driver in on-demand mode.
Quick Answer
The correct action is to switch the table to provisioned capacity mode with auto scaling. This reduces DynamoDB costs for variable workloads because on-demand mode charges a premium per request, while provisioned capacity lets you set a lower base read/write capacity and auto scaling dynamically adjusts it based on actual utilization, ensuring you only pay for what you need without sacrificing performance. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of DynamoDB capacity modes and cost optimization trade-offs—a common trap is assuming on-demand is always cheaper for variable traffic, but auto scaling with provisioned capacity often wins for predictable or moderately spiky loads. Remember the mnemonic: “Provisioned plus scaling beats on-demand for billing.”
SOA-C02 Cost and Performance Optimization Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of cost and performance optimization. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 uses an Amazon DynamoDB table with on-demand capacity mode for a variable workload. The SysOps administrator notices high costs and wants to reduce them without affecting application performance. Which action should the administrator take?
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
Switch the table to provisioned capacity mode with auto scaling.
Switching from on-demand to provisioned capacity with auto scaling reduces costs for variable workloads by allowing you to set a lower base capacity and scale only when needed, avoiding the premium per-request pricing of on-demand mode. Auto scaling adjusts read/write capacity based on actual utilization, ensuring application performance is maintained while eliminating the cost overhead of paying for every request at on-demand rates.
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.
- ✓
Switch the table to provisioned capacity mode with auto scaling.
Why this is correct
Provisioned mode with auto scaling adjusts capacity based on actual usage and is generally cheaper than on-demand for predictable or moderate variability, as long as you don't have extreme spikes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) for caching.
Why it's wrong here
DAX is a caching layer that improves read performance but adds additional cost. It does not reduce the cost of the DynamoDB table itself; in fact, it adds cost.
- ✗
Implement DynamoDB Global Tables to distribute data across regions.
Why it's wrong here
Global Tables replicate data across multiple regions, which increases write costs and storage costs. It is not a cost optimization measure.
- ✗
Set a Time to Live (TTL) attribute to automatically expire old items.
Why it's wrong here
TTL helps reduce storage costs by deleting expired items, but it does not affect the read/write capacity costs, which are the main cost driver in on-demand mode.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume on-demand mode is always the most cost-effective for variable workloads, but the exam tests that provisioned capacity with auto scaling can be cheaper for predictable variability, and that options like DAX or TTL address different cost components (latency or storage) rather than the per-request compute cost.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Provisioned capacity with auto scaling uses the AWS Application Auto Scaling service to adjust the table's read and write capacity units based on CloudWatch metrics like ConsumedReadCapacityUnits and ConsumedWriteCapacityUnits, with a target utilization (default 70%). This allows you to pay a lower hourly rate for provisioned capacity while still handling spikes, whereas on-demand mode charges a per-request premium (roughly 7x the provisioned rate) that can significantly inflate costs for workloads with moderate but variable throughput.
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 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.
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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: Switch the table to provisioned capacity mode with auto scaling. — Switching from on-demand to provisioned capacity with auto scaling reduces costs for variable workloads by allowing you to set a lower base capacity and scale only when needed, avoiding the premium per-request pricing of on-demand mode. Auto scaling adjusts read/write capacity based on actual utilization, ensuring application performance is maintained while eliminating the cost overhead of paying for every request at on-demand rates.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on SOA-C02
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. A company uses an Amazon DynamoDB table with on-demand capacity mode. The table handles a workload with a steady baseline of 500 writes per second but spikes to 2,000 writes per second for a few hours each day. The SysOps administrator wants to reduce costs without affecting application performance during spikes. Which action should the administrator take?
medium- ✓ A.Switch to provisioned capacity with auto scaling to handle the spikes.
- B.Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) to cache reads.
- C.Create a global table to distribute write traffic.
- D.Use Amazon ElastiCache to buffer write requests.
Why A: On-demand capacity mode is ideal for unpredictable workloads but costs more per write than provisioned capacity. Since this workload has a predictable baseline and spikes, switching to provisioned capacity with auto scaling allows you to pay a lower rate for the steady 500 writes per second while auto scaling automatically adds capacity to handle the 2,000 writes per second spikes, reducing overall cost without impacting performance.
Variation 2. A company uses an Amazon DynamoDB table with provisioned capacity. The average write usage is 500 write capacity units (WCU) but regularly spikes to 2,000 WCU during business hours. The SysOps administrator wants to reduce costs without affecting performance during the spikes. Which solution should the administrator implement?
medium- ✓ A.Enable DynamoDB auto scaling
- B.Switch to DynamoDB on-demand capacity mode
- C.Purchase reserved capacity for 2,000 WCU
- D.Use DynamoDB Time to Live (TTL) to delete old items
Why A: DynamoDB auto scaling allows the table to automatically adjust its provisioned write capacity between a minimum and maximum range based on actual traffic. By setting the minimum WCU to cover the average usage (500) and the maximum to handle the spikes (2,000), the administrator pays only for the baseline capacity most of the time, while the service scales up during spikes without manual intervention or over-provisioning.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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