Category: Exam Topics

SAA-C03 exam practice questions with detailed answers Question 4

The company that you are working for has a highly available architecture consisting of an elastic load balancer and several EC2 instances configured with auto-scaling in three Availability Zones. You want to monitor your EC2 instances based on a particular metric, which is not readily available in CloudWatch.

Which of the following is a custom metric in CloudWatch which you have to manually set up?

A. Memory Utilization of an EC2 instance

B. CPU Utilization of an EC2 instance

C. Disk Reads activity of an EC2 instance

D. Network packets out of an EC2 instance

 

Answer:

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Detailed Explanation:

Option A: Memory Utilization of an EC2 instance

• Explanation:
  Memory utilization is not provided by default in CloudWatch because it is an OS-level metric, not a hypervisor-level metric. To monitor this, you need to:
  1. Install the CloudWatch Agent on your EC2 instance.
  2. Configure the agent to collect memory usage data from the operating system.
  3. Send this data as a custom metric to CloudWatch.
• Why it’s a Custom Metric:
  CloudWatch does not have visibility into the operating system by default. Metrics like memory usage require an interaction with the OS, which necessitates a custom setup.
• Key Takeaway:
  Memory utilization is a custom metric in CloudWatch and needs to be manually configured and sent.

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Option B: CPU Utilization of an EC2 instance

• Explanation:
  CPU Utilization is a standard metric provided by CloudWatch. It measures the percentage of allocated EC2 compute resources being used.
• Why it’s Not Custom:
  This metric is available by default without any additional configuration or setup. CloudWatch collects and displays this metric as part of the basic EC2 monitoring.
• Key Takeaway:
  CPU Utilization is a standard CloudWatch metric, not a custom one.

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Option C: Disk Reads activity of an EC2 instance

• Explanation:
  Disk Read Activity is another standard metric provided by CloudWatch. It measures the number of read operations performed on the instance’s disks.
• Why it’s Not Custom:
  This metric is collected and displayed by CloudWatch without requiring any manual setup or additional configuration.
• Key Takeaway:
  Disk Reads is a standard CloudWatch metric, not a custom one.

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Option D: Network packets out of an EC2 instance

• Explanation:
  Network Packets Out is a standard metric available in CloudWatch. It tracks the number of network packets sent out by the instance.
• Why it’s Not Custom:
  CloudWatch provides this metric by default as part of EC2’s basic monitoring.
• Key Takeaway:
  Network Packets Out is a standard CloudWatch metric, not a custom one.

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Conclusion

Option	Metric	Custom or Standard?	Why?
A	Memory Utilization	Custom Metric	Requires CloudWatch Agent for OS-level data collection.
B	CPU Utilization	Standard Metric	Automatically provided by CloudWatch.
C	Disk Reads Activity	Standard Metric	Automatically provided by CloudWatch.
D	Network Packets Out	Standard Metric	Automatically provided by CloudWatch.

Correct Answer: A. Memory Utilization of an EC2 instance

AWS SAA-C03 Exam Practice Questions and Answers – Question 3

A company needs the ability to analyze the log files of its proprietary application. The logs are stored in JSON format in an Amazon S3 bucket. Queries will be simple and will run on-demand. A solutions architect needs to perform the analysis with minimal changes to the existing architecture. What should the solutions architect do to meet these requirements with the LEAST amount of operational overhead?

A. Use Amazon Redshift to load all the content into one place and run the SQL queries as needed.

B. Use Amazon CloudWatch Logs to store the logs. Run SQL queries as needed from the Amazon CloudWatch console.

C. Use Amazon Athena directly with Amazon S3 to run the queries as needed.

D. Use AWS Glue to catalog the logs. Use a transient Apache Spark cluster on Amazon EMR to run the SQL queries as needed.

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Correct Answer: C. Use Amazon Athena directly with Amazon S3 to run the queries as needed.

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Explanation:

Option A: Use Amazon Redshift to load all the content into one place and run the SQL queries as needed.

• Explanation:
  • Amazon Redshift is a fully managed data warehouse solution designed for complex, large-scale analytical queries. However, using Redshift for on-demand and simple queries introduces unnecessary overhead.
  • It requires the creation of a data warehouse, loading data into it, and managing resources, which contradicts the requirement for minimal operational overhead.
• Suitability:
  • Not ideal. It adds significant operational complexity and cost for a use case that can be handled more efficiently with serverless solutions.

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Option B: Use Amazon CloudWatch Logs to store the logs. Run SQL queries as needed from the Amazon CloudWatch console.

• Explanation:
  • CloudWatch Logs is a service for monitoring and analyzing log data in real-time, but it is not designed for querying JSON logs directly in S3.
  • Transferring logs from S3 to CloudWatch Logs adds operational steps and complexity, making this approach less suitable.
• Suitability:
  • Not suitable. This approach involves additional steps and complexity that do not align with the requirements.

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Option C: Use Amazon Athena directly with Amazon S3 to run the queries as needed.

• Explanation:
  • Amazon Athena is a serverless, interactive query service designed to analyze data directly in Amazon S3 using SQL.
  • Athena supports JSON, Parquet, and other formats, making it a perfect fit for querying log files in JSON format.
  • It requires no infrastructure setup or data movement, minimizing operational overhead.
  • By creating a schema for the JSON data, queries can be executed directly on the data stored in S3.
• Suitability:
  • Best option. Athena provides a low-overhead, cost-effective solution for on-demand querying of JSON logs in S3.

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Option D: Use AWS Glue to catalog the logs. Use a transient Apache Spark cluster on Amazon EMR to run the SQL queries as needed.

• Explanation:
  • AWS Glue can catalog the logs, and Amazon EMR with Apache Spark can process the data. However, this approach requires setting up and managing Glue crawlers, Spark clusters, and job execution, introducing significant operational overhead.
  • While suitable for complex processing tasks, it is overly complex for simple, on-demand queries.
• Suitability:
  • Not ideal. This solution adds unnecessary complexity and is more appropriate for large-scale data processing, not simple queries.

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Recommended Solution:

Correct Answer: C. Use Amazon Athena directly with Amazon S3 to run the queries as needed.

• Why?
  • Athena meets all the requirements with minimal operational overhead.
  • It provides a serverless and cost-effective way to query JSON log files stored in S3 on-demand using SQL.

SAA-C03 exam practice questions with detailed answers Question 2

A company is working on a file-sharing application that will utilize an amazon s3 bucket for storage. The company intends to make all the files accessible through an amazon cloudfront distribution, and not directly through 53. What should be the solution architect’s course of action to meet this requirement?

A. Create specific policies for each s3 bucket, assigning read authorization exclusively to cloudfront access.

B. Establish an iam user with read access to 53 bucket objects and link the user to cloudfront.

C. Create an s3 bucket policy that identifies the cloudfront distribution id as the principal and the target s3 bucket as the amazon resource name (arn).

D. Generate an origin access identity (OAI), associating the OAI with the cloudfront distribution and adjust s3 bucket permissions to restrict access to only OAI for reading.

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Let’s think and analyze the question options. What will be the correct answer?

Explanation:

1. Scenario Analysis:
   • The company wants files in the S3 bucket to only be accessible via CloudFront and not directly from S3.
   • To achieve this, access to the S3 bucket must be restricted, and only the CloudFront distribution should have read access.
2. Why Option D is Correct:
   • Origin Access Identity (OAI) is a special CloudFront feature that ensures secure access between CloudFront and the S3 bucket.
   • By associating the OAI with the CloudFront distribution, you grant CloudFront exclusive read access to the S3 bucket while preventing direct access to the bucket from the public.
   • The bucket policy is updated to allow the OAI to read objects while denying public access.
3. Why Other Options are Incorrect:
   • A: Creating specific policies for the bucket does not address restricting access only to CloudFront or use OAI for secure access.
   • B: IAM users are not required for this use case. IAM is used for programmatic access or human users, not CloudFront.
   • C: You cannot directly assign a CloudFront distribution ID as a principal in an S3 bucket policy. This is not how CloudFront integrates with S3.

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Solution:

1. Create an OAI in CloudFront.
2. Update the S3 bucket policy to allow read access only for the OAI.
3. Deny all public access to the S3 bucket.

This ensures secure file access only through the CloudFront distribution.

The AWS Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03) exam is one of the most sought-after certifications for cloud professionals. This guide consolidates the best resources, strategies, and tips to help you ace the exam on your first attempt.

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1. Understand the Exam Format

Before diving into preparation, familiarize yourself with the exam details:

• Exam Type: Multiple choice and multiple responses
• Domains Covered:
  1. Design Secure Architectures (30%)
  2. Design Resilient Architectures (26%)
  3. Design High-Performing Architectures (24%)
  4. Design Cost-Optimized Architectures (20%)
• Duration: 130 minutes
• Passing Score: ~720/1000
• Cost: $150 (plus applicable taxes)

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2. Core Resources for Preparation

a) Best Courses for AWS SAA C03

Invest in high-quality video courses to build your foundational knowledge and learn key AWS services in depth.

1. Stephen Marek’s SAA-C03 Course
   • Available on Udemy, this is one of the best-rated courses. Stephen’s teaching style is highly engaging, and he focuses on both theoretical and practical aspects of AWS services.
   • Includes hands-on labs and quizzes to solidify your learning.
   • Link: Stephen Marek AWS SAA-C03
2. Adrian Cantrill’s AWS Solutions Architect Associate Course
   • A deep dive into AWS concepts with high-quality diagrams and real-world scenarios.
   • Comprehensive coverage of all exam domains.
   • Link: 20% Discount Link Adrian Cantrill AWS Course

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b) AWS Solutions Architect mock exams and Practice Tests

1. Tutorials Dojo Question Bank: Tutorials Dojo AWS practice
   • Created by Jon Bonso, these are some of the most reliable and well-explained practice questions for AWS certifications.
   • Includes detailed explanations for every answer, helping you understand concepts thoroughly.
   • Link: Tutorials Dojo AWS Practice Exams
2. ExamTopics
   • A free resource offering a vast collection of community-sourced SAA-C03 questions.
   • While the accuracy of some answers may vary, it’s excellent for exposure to different question formats.
   • Link: ExamTopics AWS Questions
3. Peace of Code YouTube Videos
   • A fantastic YouTube channel offering AWS exam tips and walkthroughs of mock questions.
   • Focuses on real-world scenarios and provides in-depth explanations.
   • Link: Peace of Code AWS Playlist
4. ItsAws.com
   • You can find all the questions and answers on my website. Link [Link coming soon]

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c) AWS exam whitepapers and Documentation

Whitepapers are an official resource from AWS and are highly recommended for exam preparation.

1. AWS Well-Architected Framework
   • Covers best practices for building secure, high-performing, and cost-optimized architectures.
   • Link: AWS Well-Architected Framework
2. AWS Security Documentation
   • Essential for understanding IAM, encryption, and security practices.
   • Link: AWS Security Whitepapers
3. AWS FAQs
   • Read FAQs for services like EC2, S3, RDS, Lambda, and VPC for detailed insights.

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3. Study Plan and Strategy

a) Study Timeline

Allocate at least 4–6 weeks to prepare thoroughly.

1. Week 1–2: Learn Core Concepts
   • Watch Stephen Marek’s or Adrian Cantrill’s videos and take notes.
   • Start hands-on practice in the AWS Management Console.
2. Week 3–4: Reinforce Learning
   • Solve questions from Tutorials Dojo and ExamTopics.
   • Refer to AWS whitepapers for deeper insights.
3. Week 5–6: Focus on Weak Areas
   • Revise notes and rewatch video lectures on weak topics.
   • Take full-length mock tests to simulate exam conditions.

b) Practice Hands-On Labs

AWS is practical, so gaining hands-on experience is crucial. Work on these areas:

• Setting up EC2 instances, security groups, and VPCs.
• Configuring S3 buckets with lifecycle policies and permissions.
• Deploying serverless applications with AWS Lambda.

c) Simulate the Exam

• Take at least 3 full-length practice tests in exam-like conditions.
• Aim to consistently score 80% or higher before scheduling your exam.

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4. Exam Day Tips

1. Time Management:
   • 130 minutes for 65 questions gives ~2 minutes per question. Don’t get stuck on a single question; flag it and move on.
2. Elimination Technique:
   • Use the process of elimination to narrow down options, especially for scenario-based questions.
3. Review Your Answers:
   • Use any remaining time to review flagged questions.

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5. After the Exam

• If you pass, share your journey on LinkedIn to build credibility.
• If not, revisit your weak areas and reschedule the exam.

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Conclusion

The AWS SAA-C03 exam is challenging but achievable with the right strategy and resources. By leveraging video courses, practice questions, and AWS documentation, you can build a strong foundation and pass the exam with confidence.

Good luck on your journey to becoming an AWS Certified Solutions Architect!

If you want to PASS the SAA C03 exam within a short time frame, then you must read “How I Passed the AWS SAA C03 Solution Architect Associate Exam in 4 Weeks“

The AWS Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03) exam can be daunting, but with the right strategy and dedication, success is achievable. In this blog, I’ll share the exact steps I took to prepare for the exam, divided into a manageable 30-day timeline. Feel free to read my blog post on A Guide to AWS Solution Architect Associate SAA C03 Exam

Then come here for an AWS SAA-C03 4-week plan.

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Step 1: Complete a Video Course (15 Days)

I started my preparation with Stephen Marek’s AWS SAA-C03 Course on Udemy. The course is approximately 26 hours long, and I divided it into 15 days. That’s less than 2 hours of content daily.

As a beginner to the cloud, I found some concepts challenging. My approach was to:

• Watch the daily video module multiple times, especially sections I struggled with.
• Spend an additional 2–3 hours reading and practicing in the AWS Management Console to reinforce my understanding.
• Revise the slides from the previous day’s lecture to stay on track.

By the end of 15 days, I completed the course and felt confident about the foundational concepts.

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Step 2: Solve Questions (10 Days)

The next 10 days were dedicated to solving practice questions. My target was 60–70 questions daily, which increased to over 100 questions as I became faster. Here’s how I approached it:

1. ExamTopics

• ExamTopics offers 500+ community-contributed questions with explanations. It’s a great resource, but you need to validate answers carefully.
• To access specific questions, I used Google searches:
  "SAA C03 exam question 1 site:examtopics.com"
"SAA C03 exam question 44 site:examtopics.com"


  I repeated this process for as many questions as possible, reaching around 544.

• Tips While Solving Questions:
  • Identify service patterns and build shortcuts. For example:
    • SQL queries on S3 buckets? Likely AWS Athena.
    • HTTP/HTTPS traffic? Think ALB or CloudFront.
    • UDP traffic? Likely NLB.
  • These shortcuts helped me answer faster and more accurately.

2. Peace of Code

• Peace of Code’s YouTube Channel offers excellent walkthroughs for AWS practice questions.
• I focused on the videos with over 300 questions and analyzed the explanations in depth.

3. Daily Goal

By solving 60–70 questions daily, I covered 600–700 questions in 10 days. On some days, I exceeded 120 questions because my pace improved as I understood AWS services better.

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Step 3: Mock Exams (2–3 Days)

Once I was confident, I switched to full-length mock exams to simulate real test conditions. I used Tutorials Dojo’s question bank, which provides some of the best exam-like scenarios.

• Take 4–6 timed exams to build stamina and familiarity with the exam format.
• Target 70%+ in each mock test. If you fall short, review the explanations and revisit weak areas.

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Step 4: Revision (2–3 Days)

The last step is to revise critical AWS concepts. During this period, I focused on:

• AWS Whitepapers:
  • Disaster Recovery Strategies
  • AWS Well-Architected Framework (Six Pillars)
• Summarizing my notes and revisiting practice questions I had marked as challenging.

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Final Thoughts

By following this structured 30-day plan, I gained the knowledge and confidence needed to pass the AWS SAA-C03 exam. While I took 4 weeks in total as a beginner, this 30-day timeline can help streamline your preparation.

Here’s a quick recap:

1. 15 Days: Complete a video course (Stephen Marek’s or Adrian Cantrill’s).
2. 10 Days: Solve 600+ questions from ExamTopics, Peace of Code, and Tutorials Dojo.
3. 2–3 Days: Take full-length mock exams to solidify your readiness.
4. 2–3 Days: Revise whitepapers and challenging concepts.

This strategy worked for me, and I hope it helps you too. Let’s PASS the AWS SAA-C03 exam together!

Feel free to share your experiences or ask questions in the comments below. You can also send me any resources or notes at contact@itsaws.com—I’d appreciate your support.

SAA-C03 exam practice questions with detailed answers Question 1

Question 1

A company collects data for temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure in cities across multiple continents. The average volume of data that the company collects from each site daily is 500 GB. Each site has a high-speed Internet connection. The company wants to aggregate the data from all these global sites as quickly as possible in a single Amazon S3 bucket. The solution must minimize operational complexity. Which solution meets these requirements?

A. Turn on S3 Transfer Acceleration on the destination S3 bucket. Use multipart uploads to directly upload site data to the destination S3 bucket.

B. Upload the data from each site to an S3 bucket in the closest Region. Use S3 Cross-Region Replication to copy objects to the destination S3 bucket. Then remove the data from the origin S3 bucket.

C. Schedule AWS Snowball Edge Storage Optimized device jobs daily to transfer data from each site to the closest Region. Use S3 Cross-Region Replication to copy objects to the destination S3 bucket.

D. Upload the data from each site to an Amazon EC2 instance in the closest Region. Store the data in an Amazon Elastic Block Store (Amazon EBS) volume. At regular intervals, take an EBS snapshot and copy it to the Region that contains the destination 53 bucket. Restore the EBS volume in that Region.

 

 

Option A: Turn on S3 Transfer Acceleration and use multipart uploads

Explanation:

• S3 Transfer Acceleration speeds up the upload of data by routing it through Amazon CloudFront’s globally distributed edge locations, which improves performance when transferring data across long distances to an S3 bucket.
• Multipart uploads improve the upload of large objects (greater than 5 GB) by splitting them into smaller parts and uploading them in parallel.
• This solution reduces latency and operational complexity because data is directly uploaded from the sites to the destination S3 bucket.
• Suitability: This option is the best choice because it aggregates data quickly into a single S3 bucket with minimal operational complexity.

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Option B: Upload data to the closest Region and use S3 Cross-Region Replication

Explanation:

• In this setup, data is first uploaded to a nearby S3 bucket, then replicated to the destination bucket using S3 Cross-Region Replication (CRR).
• CRR ensures data consistency and availability but introduces an additional step and delay due to replication.
• While this approach is feasible, the added operational complexity of setting up and managing multiple regional buckets makes it less efficient than Option A.
• Suitability: This option is not ideal because the added replication step increases latency and complexity.

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Option C: Use AWS Snowball Edge for data transfer and S3 Cross-Region Replication

Explanation:

• AWS Snowball Edge devices are physical appliances used to transfer large amounts of data to AWS without relying on the internet. After shipping the devices, the data is ingested into the AWS cloud.
• While effective for regions with limited or unreliable internet connectivity, this solution is unnecessarily complex and slow for sites with high-speed internet connections.
• Suitability: This option is unsuitable because the scenario specifies high-speed internet availability, which makes Snowball devices unnecessary.

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Option D: Use EC2 instances and EBS snapshots for data transfer

Explanation:

• This approach involves uploading data to EC2 instances and storing it in EBS volumes. EBS snapshots are then created and transferred to the region of the destination S3 bucket.
• This is a highly complex and inefficient solution for this use case. It requires managing EC2 instances, EBS volumes, and snapshots across multiple regions.
• Suitability: This option is highly operationally intensive and not aligned with the requirement to minimize complexity.

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Recommended Solution

• Correct Answer: A. Turn on S3 Transfer Acceleration on the destination S3 bucket. Use multipart uploads to upload site data to the destination S3 bucket directly.
• This option meets the requirements by providing a fast, efficient, and operationally simple solution for aggregating data into a single S3 bucket.

Correct Answer = A