- A
Enable Multi-AZ deployment for the DB instance.
Why wrong: Multi-AZ increases costs by provisioning a standby instance and does not reduce the cost of the primary instance.
- B
Change the DB instance to a smaller instance type.
Selecting a smaller instance type reduces the hourly compute cost. Since current utilization is low, a smaller instance will still provide adequate performance.
- C
Change the storage type from gp2 to gp3.
Why wrong: Changing storage type may affect storage cost but does not address the CPU cost. Moreover, gp3 might be cheaper per GB, but the primary cost savings come from downsizing the instance.
- D
Increase the provisioned IOPS.
Why wrong: Increasing IOPS increases cost and is unnecessary when CPU is underutilized. It does not reduce the instance cost.
Quick Answer
The answer is to change the DB instance to a smaller instance type. This is correct because the RDS instance is over-provisioned for its workload, as shown by consistently low CPU utilization at 10% and adequate application performance. Downsizing the RDS instance directly reduces compute costs without affecting performance, since the current 8 vCPUs and 32 GB RAM far exceed what the workload requires. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to identify cost optimization opportunities through right-sizing, a core pillar of the AWS Well-Architected Framework. A common trap is assuming you must change the storage type or enable auto-scaling, but the most direct action is modifying the instance class to a smaller size. Memory tip: “Low CPU, high RAM? Downsize the instance, not the plan.”
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 SysOps administrator notices that an Amazon RDS DB instance is running at 10% CPU utilization consistently. The instance has 8 vCPUs and 32 GB RAM. The application's performance is adequate. Which action will reduce costs without affecting performance?
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
Change the DB instance to a smaller instance type.
The DB instance is over-provisioned for the current workload, as evidenced by the consistently low CPU utilization (10%) and adequate application performance. By changing to a smaller instance type, you reduce compute costs directly while maintaining sufficient capacity for the workload. This is the most straightforward cost optimization action when performance requirements are already met.
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 Multi-AZ deployment for the DB instance.
Why it's wrong here
Multi-AZ increases costs by provisioning a standby instance and does not reduce the cost of the primary instance.
- ✓
Change the DB instance to a smaller instance type.
Why this is correct
Selecting a smaller instance type reduces the hourly compute cost. Since current utilization is low, a smaller instance will still provide adequate performance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Change the storage type from gp2 to gp3.
Why it's wrong here
Changing storage type may affect storage cost but does not address the CPU cost. Moreover, gp3 might be cheaper per GB, but the primary cost savings come from downsizing the instance.
- ✗
Increase the provisioned IOPS.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing IOPS increases cost and is unnecessary when CPU is underutilized. It does not reduce the instance cost.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse cost optimization with performance improvement or high availability, leading them to select Multi-AZ or IOPS changes, which increase costs rather than reduce them.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
RDS instance pricing is primarily driven by instance class (compute and memory) and storage type/size. A 10% CPU utilization on an 8 vCPU instance indicates significant idle capacity; rightsizing to a smaller instance (e.g., from db.r5.2xlarge to db.r5.xlarge) can halve compute costs while still providing ample headroom for spikes. AWS Compute Optimizer or RDS Performance Insights can help identify the optimal instance size based on actual usage patterns.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: Change the DB instance to a smaller instance type. — The DB instance is over-provisioned for the current workload, as evidenced by the consistently low CPU utilization (10%) and adequate application performance. By changing to a smaller instance type, you reduce compute costs directly while maintaining sufficient capacity for the workload. This is the most straightforward cost optimization action when performance requirements are already met.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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.
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