The answer is the Horizontal Pod Autoscaler (HPA) and the Cluster Autoscaler. HPA automatically scales the number of pod replicas up or down based on observed CPU utilization or other custom metrics, directly addressing the need to handle traffic spikes. The Cluster Autoscaler complements this by automatically scaling the number of AKS worker nodes up when pods cannot be scheduled due to resource constraints, and scaling nodes down when they are underutilized, thereby minimizing cost. On the AZ-305 exam, this pairing tests your understanding of the two distinct layers of Kubernetes autoscaling: application-level (pods) and infrastructure-level (nodes). A common trap is confusing the Vertical Pod Autoscaler, which adjusts pod resource requests, with the node-level scaling provided by the Cluster Autoscaler. Remember the memory tip: “Pods scale out, nodes scale up”—HPA handles the pods, Cluster Autoscaler handles the nodes.
AZ-305 Design infrastructure solutions Practice Question
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design infrastructure solutions. 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.
You are designing a microservices architecture on Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS). The solution must handle traffic spikes by automatically scaling pods based on CPU utilization. Additionally, you need to minimize cost by scaling down nodes when not in use. Which two features should you implement? (Choose two.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Horizontal Pod Autoscaler (HPA)
Options A and D are correct. Horizontal Pod Autoscaler (HPA) scales pods based on CPU/memory metrics, and Cluster Autoscaler scales nodes up/down based on pod scheduling needs. Option B (Vertical Pod Autoscaler) scales pod resources but not nodes. Option C (Azure Load Balancer) distributes traffic but does not autoscale. Option E (Azure Container Instances) is for serverless containers, not integrated with AKS autoscaling.
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.
✗
Azure Load Balancer
Why it's wrong here
Load Balancer distributes traffic but does not autoscale.
✓
Horizontal Pod Autoscaler (HPA)
Why this is correct
HPA automatically scales pod replicas based on CPU utilization.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Vertical Pod Autoscaler (VPA)
Why it's wrong here
VPA adjusts resource requests/limits of pods, not node scaling.
✗
Azure Container Instances (ACI)
Why it's wrong here
ACI is separate and not part of AKS autoscaling.
✓
Cluster Autoscaler
Why this is correct
Cluster Autoscaler scales node count based on pending pods.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-305 question in full detail.
Identify which AZ-305 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.
Design infrastructure solutions — This question tests Design infrastructure solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Horizontal Pod Autoscaler (HPA) — Options A and D are correct. Horizontal Pod Autoscaler (HPA) scales pods based on CPU/memory metrics, and Cluster Autoscaler scales nodes up/down based on pod scheduling needs. Option B (Vertical Pod Autoscaler) scales pod resources but not nodes. Option C (Azure Load Balancer) distributes traffic but does not autoscale. Option E (Azure Container Instances) is for serverless containers, not integrated with AKS autoscaling.
What should I do if I get this AZ-305 question wrong?
Identify which AZ-305 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: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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