The correct answer is to create an Auto Scaling group with a scheduled scaling policy to add instances during peak hours. This approach directly addresses the predictable daily traffic spike between 12:00 and 14:00 UTC by automatically provisioning additional EC2 capacity only when needed, then scaling back down to reduce costs during off-peak periods. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Auto Scaling scheduled scaling for cost optimization, where the key distinction is matching scaling actions to predictable demand patterns rather than reactive or static solutions. A common trap is choosing a larger instance size, which wastes money during low-utilization hours, or a step scaling policy based on CloudWatch alarms, which is better for unpredictable traffic. For a memory tip, think of scheduled scaling as your "calendar-based cost cutter"—if the traffic pattern repeats daily, schedule it, don't react to it.
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.
Network Topology
A SysOps administrator reviews the CloudWatch metric data for an EC2 instance. The instance runs a web application that experiences high traffic between 12:00 and 14:00 UTC daily. The administrator wants to optimize costs while maintaining performance. What should the administrator do?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create an Auto Scaling group with a scheduled scaling policy to add instances during peak hours.
The correct answer is C. The instance has low CPU utilization most of the day but spikes to 90% during peak hours. Using a scheduled Auto Scaling to add instances during peak hours ensures performance without over-provisioning. Option A is wrong because the instance is not constantly at high utilization. Option B is wrong because upgrading instance size increases cost during off-peak hours. Option D is wrong because a larger instance would be underutilized.
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.
✗
Convert the instance to a Reserved Instance to reduce hourly cost.
Why it's wrong here
Reserved Instances provide discount but do not address the peak utilization issue.
✗
Replace the instance with a larger instance type and enable detailed monitoring.
Create an Auto Scaling group with a scheduled scaling policy to add instances during peak hours.
Why this is correct
This adds capacity during peaks and reduces during off-peak.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Increase the instance size to handle peak load at all times.
Why it's wrong here
This wastes resources during off-peak hours.
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: Create an Auto Scaling group with a scheduled scaling policy to add instances during peak hours. — The correct answer is C. The instance has low CPU utilization most of the day but spikes to 90% during peak hours. Using a scheduled Auto Scaling to add instances during peak hours ensures performance without over-provisioning. Option A is wrong because the instance is not constantly at high utilization. Option B is wrong because upgrading instance size increases cost during off-peak hours. Option D is wrong because a larger instance would be underutilized.
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.
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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