The correct answer is to scale up the virtual machines by increasing CPU and RAM. This is because the cloud VDI environment is experiencing resource contention at 95% utilization, meaning the existing VMs are saturated and cannot handle the login load; scaling up, or vertical scaling, adds more power to each VM, directly alleviating the bottleneck. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the difference between scaling up vs scaling out for cloud VDI resource contention—a common trap is choosing to add more VMs (scale out), which only spreads the load across more saturated nodes without fixing the root cause of insufficient per-VM resources. Remember the mnemonic: "Up for power, out for load"—when utilization is high on existing hardware, you must scale up to increase capacity per user.
220-1201 Cloud Computing Concepts Practice Question
This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of cloud computing concepts. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 company uses a cloud-based virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution. Users report that logging in takes 5 minutes during peak hours. The IT team notices that the cloud provider's resource utilization is at 95%. Which action would best resolve this issue?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Scale up the virtual machines by increasing CPU and RAM
This question addresses resource contention in cloud VDI. High utilization (95%) indicates the provider's resources are saturated, causing slow logins. Scaling up (vertical scaling) by increasing the VM size provides more CPU/RAM per user, improving performance. Scaling out adds more VMs but doesn't address the root cause of resource saturation on existing VMs. Migrating to a different model or disabling auto-scaling could worsen the issue.
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.
✗
Migrate to a different cloud provider
Why it's wrong here
Migrating is costly and time-consuming; the issue is resource allocation, not the provider itself.
✓
Scale up the virtual machines by increasing CPU and RAM
Why this is correct
Scaling up gives each VM more resources, reducing contention and speeding up logins.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Scale out by adding more virtual desktops
Why it's wrong here
Adding more VMs might spread the load but doesn't fix the saturation of existing resources.
✗
Disable automatic scaling
Why it's wrong here
Disabling auto-scaling would prevent the system from adjusting to demand, likely worsening the problem.
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 practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1201 question in full detail.
Identify which 220-1201 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.
Cloud Computing Concepts — This question tests Cloud Computing Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Scale up the virtual machines by increasing CPU and RAM — This question addresses resource contention in cloud VDI. High utilization (95%) indicates the provider's resources are saturated, causing slow logins. Scaling up (vertical scaling) by increasing the VM size provides more CPU/RAM per user, improving performance. Scaling out adds more VMs but doesn't address the root cause of resource saturation on existing VMs. Migrating to a different model or disabling auto-scaling could worsen the issue.
What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?
Identify which 220-1201 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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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