easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CV0-004 Practice Question: A startup is deploying a web application on a…
A startup is deploying a web application on a public cloud and expects variable traffic throughout the day. The team wants to minimize costs while ensuring that the application can handle sudden spikes in demand. Which scaling strategy best meets these requirements?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the misconception that vertical scaling is more cost-effective than horizontal scaling, but the trap here is that vertical scaling requires downtime and has a hard limit on instance size, making it unsuitable for handling sudden, unpredictable spikes in a cost-minimizing, variable-traffic scenario.
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
✓
Auto scaling based on CPU utilization thresholds
Auto scaling based on CPU utilization thresholds is the correct strategy because it dynamically adjusts the number of compute instances in response to real-time demand, ensuring the application can handle sudden spikes while minimizing costs during low-traffic periods. This approach aligns with the startup's requirement for variable traffic and cost efficiency, as it only provisions resources when needed, unlike fixed schedules or manual interventions that cannot react to unpredictable spikes.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Auto scaling based on CPU utilization thresholds
Why this is correct
Auto scaling adjusts resources dynamically to meet demand.
- ✗
Horizontal scaling using a fixed schedule
Why it's wrong here
Fixed schedule cannot handle unexpected demand.
- ✗
Vertical scaling during off-peak hours
Why it's wrong here
Vertical scaling is limited by instance size and causes downtime.
- ✗
Manual scaling based on historical data
Why it's wrong here
Manual scaling cannot react to sudden spikes.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CV0-004 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 CV0-004 exam.