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AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate Exam Question Walkthrough
Understand why AWS Lambda and API Gateway are the best choices for a serverless application. Learn how to tackle similar questions on the SAA-C03 exam.
A common challenge for candidates is identifying the right services for serverless architectures. Many options can appear viable, but only one truly fits the bill for automatic scaling.
The question
A startup is developing a serverless application that processes user uploads and generates reports. They want to ensure that the application can scale automatically based on the number of incoming requests. Which combination of AWS services would best meet this requirement?
- A. AWS Lambda and Amazon API Gateway
- B. Amazon EC2 with Auto Scaling and Elastic Load Balancing
- C. AWS Batch and Amazon S3
- D. Amazon ECS with EC2 Launch Type
Think before you scroll
Consider the requirements of a serverless application. It needs to handle variable workloads and scale automatically without manual intervention. This will help you narrow down your choices quickly.
The answer
The correct option is A: AWS Lambda and Amazon API Gateway. This combination provides a fully serverless architecture that scales automatically with the number of requests. It is well-suited for processing uploads and generating reports in real-time.
Why the other options lose
- B. Amazon EC2 with Auto Scaling and Elastic Load Balancing: While this option can scale, it requires managing EC2 instances. This introduces additional complexity and does not fit the serverless requirement.
- C. AWS Batch and Amazon S3: AWS Batch is designed for batch processing jobs, not real-time request handling. It is not suitable for scenarios needing immediate processing of uploads or reports.
- D. Amazon ECS with EC2 Launch Type: This option also involves managing EC2 instances and does not provide the serverless benefits that Lambda offers. ECS is better suited for containerized workloads rather than serverless applications.
The concept behind it
When designing a serverless application, think about how to eliminate infrastructure management. AWS Lambda automatically manages scaling and integrates seamlessly with API Gateway for handling requests. This architecture minimizes operational overhead and maximizes efficiency.
Exam trap to remember
Remember the two-question rule: if a question discusses serverless architecture, think AWS Lambda and API Gateway first. They are the go-to services for automatic scaling in serverless environments.