AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate / Question #1304 of 1019

Question #1304

A company hosts its static website on Amazon S3. They want to add a feedback form that requires server-side processing to store user responses. The form will collect user ratings and comments. The company anticipates fewer than 100 submissions per month. Which solution meets these requirements MOST cost-effectively?

A

Host the feedback form on Amazon ECS. Use Amazon RDS to store the responses and Amazon SNS to notify administrators.

B

Create an Amazon API Gateway endpoint with an AWS Lambda backend that stores the data in Amazon DynamoDB.

C

Convert the website to Amazon Lightsail, implement client-side scripting for the form, and use Amazon Redshift for storage.

D

Deploy a t2.micro Amazon EC2 instance with a LAMP stack to host the form. Use client-side scripting and Amazon RDS for storage.

Explanation

The correct answer is B. Here's why:

- Cost-Effectiveness: API Gateway and Lambda follow a pay-per-request pricing model, with no charges when idle. DynamoDB’s free tier and low storage/throughput costs suit infrequent submissions (100/month).
- Serverless Architecture: Eliminates the need for always-on infrastructure (e.g., EC2, ECS, RDS), reducing operational costs and maintenance.
- Scalability: Automatically handles traffic spikes without manual intervention.

Why other options are incorrect:
- A: ECS and RDS require constant provisioning, incurring higher costs for low usage.
- C: Client-side scripting cannot process server-side logic, and Redshift is overkill for simple data storage.
- D: EC2 and RDS involve ongoing costs for idle resources and operational overhead.

Key Points:
- Use serverless services (Lambda, API Gateway, DynamoDB) for sporadic, low-volume workloads.
- Avoid always-on infrastructure (EC2, ECS, RDS) when serverless alternatives exist.
- Client-side scripting cannot replace server-side processing.

Answer

The correct answer is: B