AWS Solutions Architect
Associate
SAA-C03 • Exam-Focused Study Guide
High-yield concepts, comparisons, traps, and quick decision rules
10-PAGE RAPID REVIEW
Use this as a last-minute review sheet. For certification preparation, verify service limits, pricing, and feature details against current AWS documentation.
AWS SAA-C03 • Humanized Study Guide Page 1
, AWS Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03) —
Exam-Focused Study Guide
*High-yield concepts, comparisons, traps, and quick decision rules*
S3 Storage Classes – A Practical Comparison
Storage classes: cost, retrieval, and when to use each
Storage Class Storage Cost / Retrieval Fee Min Storage Min Billable Size First-Byte Availability Best Use Case
GB Days Latency
Standard $0.023 None None None ms 99.99% Active data,
frequent access
Intelligent-Tieri $0.023–$0.0009 None (auto None 128 KB ms 99.9% Unknown or
ng 9 tiers) (frequent/IA), changing
minutes access patterns
(archive)
Standard-IA $0.0125 $0.01/GB 30 days 128 KB ms 99.9% Known
infrequent
access,
long-term
storage
One Zone-IA $0.01 $0.01/GB 30 days 128 KB ms 99.5% Recreatable
data,
cost-sensitive
Glacier Instant $0.004 $0.03/GB 90 days 128 KB ms 99.9% Quarterly
Retrieval access, need
ms retrieval
Glacier Flexible $0.0036 $0.01–$0.03/GB 90 days 40 KB Minutes to 12h 99.9% Archived data
Retrieval with occasional
retrievals
Glacier Deep $0.00099 $0.0025–$0.02/ 180 days 40 KB 12–48 hours 99.9% Long-term
Archive GB compliance (7+
years)
Durability: All classes provide 11 nines (99.999999999%) – this never changes.
Availability differs – watch for that in questions.
Exam-day decision guide: choosing the right class
Keyword in Scenario Correct Answer
"Unknown or changing access patterns" Intelligent-Tiering
"Frequently accessed, no retrieval fee" Standard
"Infrequent but needs ms retrieval" Standard-IA (or Glacier Instant if even less frequent)
"Can recreate data, want lowest cost" One Zone-IA
"Accessed quarterly, ms retrieval required" Glacier Instant Retrieval
"Archival, can wait hours, compliance" Glacier Flexible Retrieval
"Cheapest, 7+ years, can wait 12+ hours" Glacier Deep Archive
S3 Lifecycle rules and retrieval fees: common cost traps
AWS SAA-C03 • Humanized Study Guide Page 2
Associate
SAA-C03 • Exam-Focused Study Guide
High-yield concepts, comparisons, traps, and quick decision rules
10-PAGE RAPID REVIEW
Use this as a last-minute review sheet. For certification preparation, verify service limits, pricing, and feature details against current AWS documentation.
AWS SAA-C03 • Humanized Study Guide Page 1
, AWS Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03) —
Exam-Focused Study Guide
*High-yield concepts, comparisons, traps, and quick decision rules*
S3 Storage Classes – A Practical Comparison
Storage classes: cost, retrieval, and when to use each
Storage Class Storage Cost / Retrieval Fee Min Storage Min Billable Size First-Byte Availability Best Use Case
GB Days Latency
Standard $0.023 None None None ms 99.99% Active data,
frequent access
Intelligent-Tieri $0.023–$0.0009 None (auto None 128 KB ms 99.9% Unknown or
ng 9 tiers) (frequent/IA), changing
minutes access patterns
(archive)
Standard-IA $0.0125 $0.01/GB 30 days 128 KB ms 99.9% Known
infrequent
access,
long-term
storage
One Zone-IA $0.01 $0.01/GB 30 days 128 KB ms 99.5% Recreatable
data,
cost-sensitive
Glacier Instant $0.004 $0.03/GB 90 days 128 KB ms 99.9% Quarterly
Retrieval access, need
ms retrieval
Glacier Flexible $0.0036 $0.01–$0.03/GB 90 days 40 KB Minutes to 12h 99.9% Archived data
Retrieval with occasional
retrievals
Glacier Deep $0.00099 $0.0025–$0.02/ 180 days 40 KB 12–48 hours 99.9% Long-term
Archive GB compliance (7+
years)
Durability: All classes provide 11 nines (99.999999999%) – this never changes.
Availability differs – watch for that in questions.
Exam-day decision guide: choosing the right class
Keyword in Scenario Correct Answer
"Unknown or changing access patterns" Intelligent-Tiering
"Frequently accessed, no retrieval fee" Standard
"Infrequent but needs ms retrieval" Standard-IA (or Glacier Instant if even less frequent)
"Can recreate data, want lowest cost" One Zone-IA
"Accessed quarterly, ms retrieval required" Glacier Instant Retrieval
"Archival, can wait hours, compliance" Glacier Flexible Retrieval
"Cheapest, 7+ years, can wait 12+ hours" Glacier Deep Archive
S3 Lifecycle rules and retrieval fees: common cost traps
AWS SAA-C03 • Humanized Study Guide Page 2
