SOA-C02 Cost and Performance Optimization Practice Question
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 SysOps administrator receives an AWS Budgets alert that the monthly cost for an S3 bucket has increased by 300% compared to the previous month. The bucket stores log files and uses S3 Standard storage. The bucket has versioning enabled and lifecycle policies that transition objects to S3 Glacier Deep Archive after 90 days. What is the MOST likely cause of the cost increase?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The cost of lifecycle transition requests to Glacier Deep Archive.
Option B is correct because S3 Lifecycle transition requests cost per object, and the transition to Glacier Deep Archive incurs a cost. Option A is wrong because S3 Standard storage costs are for the first 90 days, not the transition. Option C is wrong because object size is not mentioned as a change. Option D is wrong because data transfer costs are not typically associated with lifecycle transitions.
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.
✗
The increased storage costs due to S3 Standard storage for the first 90 days.
Why it's wrong here
The storage cost for 90 days is relatively low compared to transition costs.
✓
The cost of lifecycle transition requests to Glacier Deep Archive.
Why this is correct
Each transition request costs, and if many objects are being transitioned, costs can add up.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Data transfer costs for downloading logs from the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
No mention of data transfer, and the alert is for storage costs.
✗
The cost of storing multiple versions of objects due to versioning.
Why it's wrong here
Versioning adds storage costs, but the alert is about a sudden 300% increase, not gradual.
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.
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: The cost of lifecycle transition requests to Glacier Deep Archive. — Option B is correct because S3 Lifecycle transition requests cost per object, and the transition to Glacier Deep Archive incurs a cost. Option A is wrong because S3 Standard storage costs are for the first 90 days, not the transition. Option C is wrong because object size is not mentioned as a change. Option D is wrong because data transfer costs are not typically associated with lifecycle transitions.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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