This CV0-004 practice question tests your understanding of operations and support. 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 AWS for its production environment. The company has deployed a web application behind an Application Load Balancer (ALB) with a target group containing two EC2 instances in different Availability Zones. The application is stateless and stores session data in an external Redis cluster. Recently, users report that they are occasionally logged out during a session. The load balancer health checks pass for both instances. The application logs show no errors. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the issue?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The Redis cluster is not configured for replication.
The application is stateless and stores session data in an external Redis cluster. If the Redis cluster lacks replication, a failure of the primary node will cause all session data to be lost, logging users out. The ALB health checks pass and application logs show no errors because the EC2 instances themselves are healthy; the issue lies entirely in the Redis layer's lack of high availability.
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.
✓
The Redis cluster is not configured for replication.
Why this is correct
Without replication, a failure in the Redis node can cause session data loss, resulting in intermittent logouts.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The instances are using different AMI versions.
Why it's wrong here
Different AMI versions would not cause session loss; they might cause application inconsistencies, but logs show no errors.
✗
The target group is configured with slow start.
Why it's wrong here
Slow start gradually increases traffic to new instances; it does not cause session loss.
✗
Sticky sessions are not enabled on the ALB.
Why it's wrong here
Since the application is stateless and uses external Redis for sessions, sticky sessions are not required; requests can go to any instance.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume sticky sessions are required for session persistence, but the question explicitly states the application is stateless and uses an external Redis cluster, making the Redis architecture the real culprit.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Different AMI versions would not cause session loss; they might cause application inconsistencies, but logs show no errors.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Redis replication uses a primary-replica architecture where the primary handles writes and asynchronously replicates data to replicas. Without replication, a primary node failure triggers a full loss of in-memory data, as Redis is not persistent by default unless RDB/AOF is configured. In production, Redis Sentinel or Redis Cluster should be used to provide automatic failover and data durability, ensuring session state survives node failures.
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 practitioner preparing for the CV0-004 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.
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.
Operations and Support — This question tests Operations and Support — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The Redis cluster is not configured for replication. — The application is stateless and stores session data in an external Redis cluster. If the Redis cluster lacks replication, a failure of the primary node will cause all session data to be lost, logging users out. The ALB health checks pass and application logs show no errors because the EC2 instances themselves are healthy; the issue lies entirely in the Redis layer's lack of high availability.
What should I do if I get this CV0-004 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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