- A
Create a target tracking scaling policy that uses the custom metric as a target.
Target tracking scaling policies can use custom metrics and automatically adjust capacity to maintain a target value.
- B
Create a step scaling policy that adjusts capacity based on the magnitude of the metric breach.
Why wrong: Step scaling is possible but more complex to manage than target tracking.
- C
Create a scheduled scaling policy that increases capacity during peak hours.
Why wrong: Scheduled scaling cannot adapt to real-time changes in user sessions.
- D
Create a simple scaling policy that adds instances when the custom metric exceeds a threshold and removes when below.
Why wrong: Simple scaling policies are less responsive and require cooldown periods that may not keep up with load changes.
Quick Answer
The answer is to create a target tracking scaling policy that uses the custom metric as a target. This is the most effective approach because target tracking automatically adjusts the Auto Scaling group to maintain a specified target value for your custom CloudWatch metric, such as the number of active user sessions in ElastiCache, without requiring you to define manual thresholds or complex step adjustments. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that target tracking policies can natively consume custom metrics published to CloudWatch, making them ideal for dynamic workloads where a simple scaling policy would be too rigid and step scaling unnecessarily complex. A common trap is to default to step scaling for custom metrics, but target tracking simplifies management by handling the math for you. Memory tip: think “target tracking = set it and forget it” for any metric that has a clear target value.
SOA-C02 Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of deployment, provisioning, and automation. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
An organization has a requirement to automatically scale its web application based on a custom metric that measures the number of active user sessions stored in Amazon ElastiCache. The metric is published to CloudWatch every minute. The Auto Scaling group currently uses a simple scaling policy based on CPU utilization. What is the most effective way to implement scaling based on this custom metric?
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
Create a target tracking scaling policy that uses the custom metric as a target.
Option D is correct. A target tracking scaling policy can be configured to use a custom CloudWatch metric, which simplifies management and maintains a target value. Option A (simple scaling policy) would require manual thresholds and is less responsive. Option B (step scaling) is possible but more complex. Option C (scheduled scaling) is not appropriate for dynamic changes.
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.
- ✓
Create a target tracking scaling policy that uses the custom metric as a target.
Why this is correct
Target tracking scaling policies can use custom metrics and automatically adjust capacity to maintain a target value.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create a step scaling policy that adjusts capacity based on the magnitude of the metric breach.
Why it's wrong here
Step scaling is possible but more complex to manage than target tracking.
- ✗
Create a scheduled scaling policy that increases capacity during peak hours.
Why it's wrong here
Scheduled scaling cannot adapt to real-time changes in user sessions.
- ✗
Create a simple scaling policy that adds instances when the custom metric exceeds a threshold and removes when below.
Why it's wrong here
Simple scaling policies are less responsive and require cooldown periods that may not keep up with load changes.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SOA-C02 question test?
Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation — This question tests Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a target tracking scaling policy that uses the custom metric as a target. — Option D is correct. A target tracking scaling policy can be configured to use a custom CloudWatch metric, which simplifies management and maintains a target value. Option A (simple scaling policy) would require manual thresholds and is less responsive. Option B (step scaling) is possible but more complex. Option C (scheduled scaling) is not appropriate for dynamic changes.
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.
About these practice questions
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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.
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