- A
Create a read replica with the new storage size and promote it.
Why wrong: This is complex and may cause downtime during promotion.
- B
Modify the storage size in the CloudFormation template and update the stack.
RDS allows online storage modification for gp2; applying during maintenance window avoids downtime.
- C
Stop the DB instance, modify the storage, and start it.
Why wrong: Stopping the instance causes downtime.
- D
Take a manual snapshot and restore it with the new storage size.
Why wrong: This would cause downtime and is not necessary.
Question 881 of 1,546
SOA-C02 Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of deployment, provisioning, and automation. 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.
An organization uses AWS CloudFormation to manage infrastructure. They have a stack that includes an Amazon RDS DB instance. The administrator wants to update the DB instance's allocated storage without downtime. The DB instance is currently using gp2 storage. Which action should the administrator take?
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
✓
Modify the storage size in the CloudFormation template and update the stack.
Option B is correct because modifying the allocated storage size in the CloudFormation template and updating the stack triggers a storage modification on the RDS DB instance. For gp2 storage, increasing allocated storage does not require downtime; RDS performs the modification while the instance remains available. This approach aligns with the requirement to avoid downtime and leverages CloudFormation's infrastructure-as-code capabilities.
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 read replica with the new storage size and promote it.
Why it's wrong here
This is complex and may cause downtime during promotion.
- ✓
Modify the storage size in the CloudFormation template and update the stack.
Why this is correct
RDS allows online storage modification for gp2; applying during maintenance window avoids downtime.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Stop the DB instance, modify the storage, and start it.
Why it's wrong here
Stopping the instance causes downtime.
- ✗
Take a manual snapshot and restore it with the new storage size.
Why it's wrong here
This would cause downtime and is not necessary.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume any storage modification requires downtime or a manual snapshot/restore, but AWS RDS allows online storage scaling for gp2 volumes, making a direct CloudFormation update the correct zero-downtime approach.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
RDS supports online storage scaling for gp2 volumes by automatically extending the volume while the instance is active; the modification is applied asynchronously and the instance remains fully operational during the process. CloudFormation handles this by sending a ModifyDBInstance API call with the new AllocatedStorage parameter, which RDS processes without requiring a reboot. A real-world scenario is when an application experiences storage pressure and needs immediate scaling; using CloudFormation ensures the change is tracked in the stack and can be rolled back if needed.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
What to study next
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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: Modify the storage size in the CloudFormation template and update the stack. — Option B is correct because modifying the allocated storage size in the CloudFormation template and updating the stack triggers a storage modification on the RDS DB instance. For gp2 storage, increasing allocated storage does not require downtime; RDS performs the modification while the instance remains available. This approach aligns with the requirement to avoid downtime and leverages CloudFormation's infrastructure-as-code capabilities.
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.
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 →
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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