Quick Answer
The answer is Amazon RDS Performance Insights, as it is the correct AWS service for identifying high CPU queries in RDS. This tool provides a real-time dashboard that visualizes database load by grouping active sessions and displaying the top SQL queries, waits, and hosts, allowing you to pinpoint exactly which queries are consuming CPU resources during peak hours. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of database monitoring versus general logging or security services—a common trap is confusing CloudWatch Logs (which only stores raw logs) or CloudTrail (which records API calls) with Performance Insights’ query-level analysis. Remember that Performance Insights is purpose-built for RDS query performance identification, while Inspector is for vulnerability scanning and irrelevant here. A simple memory tip: “Performance Insights shows you the ‘who’ and ‘what’ behind the CPU spike—CloudWatch only shows you the spike itself.”
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of cost and performance optimization. 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 wants to monitor the performance of its Amazon RDS for MySQL database. The database is experiencing high CPU utilization during peak hours. The SysOps administrator needs to identify the queries causing the load. Which AWS service should be used?
Amazon RDS Performance Insights
Performance Insights identifies top queries by load.
AWS CloudTrail
Why wrong: CloudTrail logs API calls, not SQL queries.
Amazon Inspector
Why wrong: Inspector is for security assessments.
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
Why wrong: CloudWatch Logs does not provide database query performance insights.
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 RDS Performance Insights
Option C is correct because Amazon RDS Performance Insights provides a dashboard that visualizes database load and helps identify the queries that are causing high CPU usage. Option A is wrong because Amazon CloudWatch Logs only collects log files, not query performance data. Option B is wrong because AWS CloudTrail records API activity, not database queries. Option D is wrong because Amazon Inspector is a vulnerability management service, not a database performance tool.
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 RDS Performance Insights
Why this is correct
Performance Insights identifies top queries by load.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AWS CloudTrail
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail logs API calls, not SQL queries.
Amazon Inspector
Why it's wrong here
Inspector is for security assessments.
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
Why it's wrong here
CloudWatch Logs does not provide database query performance insights.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
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.
Cost and Performance Optimization — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Cost and Performance Optimization practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All SOA-C02 questions
1,546 questions across all exam domains
AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
SOA-C02 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to Monitoring, Logging, and Remediation.
Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to Reliability and Business Continuity.
Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation.
Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to Security and Compliance.
Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to Networking and Content Delivery.
Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to Cost and Performance Optimization.
Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to SOA-C02 fundamentals.
Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to SOA-C02 scenario.
Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to SOA-C02 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Cost and Performance Optimization — This question tests Cost and Performance Optimization — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Amazon RDS Performance Insights — Option C is correct because Amazon RDS Performance Insights provides a dashboard that visualizes database load and helps identify the queries that are causing high CPU usage. Option A is wrong because Amazon CloudWatch Logs only collects log files, not query performance data. Option B is wrong because AWS CloudTrail records API activity, not database queries. Option D is wrong because Amazon Inspector is a vulnerability management service, not a database performance tool.
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.
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 →
Keep practising
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.