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Cost and Performance Optimization →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Reducing RDS Costs by Resizing to a Smaller Instance Class for Low Utilization

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 the monthly bill for Amazon RDS is higher than expected. The environment includes multiple DB instances with low CPU and memory utilization. Which action will most effectively reduce costs while maintaining 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

✓

Resize the DB instances to a smaller instance class

The correct answer is B because the DB instances have low CPU and memory utilization, indicating they are over-provisioned. Resizing to a smaller instance class directly reduces the hourly compute cost without affecting performance, as the current workload does not require the larger instance's capacity.

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 high availability

    Why it's wrong here

    Increases cost without addressing low utilization.

  • ✓

    Resize the DB instances to a smaller instance class

    Why this is correct

    Matches capacity to actual usage, reducing cost.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • ✗

    Delete unused RDS snapshots

    Why it's wrong here

    Reduces storage cost but does not address compute waste.

  • ✗

    Provisioned IOPS (io1) storage for better performance

    Why it's wrong here

    Increases cost; not needed if performance is adequate.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The AWS exam often tests the misconception that deleting snapshots or changing storage type is the primary cost driver, when in reality, compute costs from over-provisioned instances are the largest contributor to RDS bills in low-utilization scenarios.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

RDS instance pricing is based on the instance class (vCPU and memory), storage type, and data transfer. When CPU and memory utilization are consistently low, the instance is over-provisioned, and downsizing to a smaller class (e.g., from db.r5.large to db.t3.medium) can reduce hourly costs by 50% or more while still meeting workload demands. AWS Compute Optimizer or CloudWatch metrics (e.g., CPUUtilization, FreeableMemory) can be used to identify right-sizing opportunities.

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: Resize the DB instances to a smaller instance class — The correct answer is B because the DB instances have low CPU and memory utilization, indicating they are over-provisioned. Resizing to a smaller instance class directly reduces the hourly compute cost without affecting performance, as the current workload does not require the larger instance's capacity.

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: Jul 4, 2026

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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.