A production database server runs 24/7 on EC2 at a stable size for at least the next year. The company wants the largest legitimate discount without changing the architecture. What should they purchase?
A.Nothing — On-Demand is already cheapest for steady workloads
On-Demand is the most flexible and the most expensive per hour for steady usage.
B.A Compute Savings Plan or EC2 Instance Savings Plan (1-year or 3-year commitment), or a Reserved Instance
Correct. Commitment-based discounts fit stable 24/7 workloads.
C.Spot Instances for the database
Spot capacity can be interrupted — inappropriate for a production database.
D.A second identical instance for load balancing
Adding capacity increases cost; it is not a discount mechanism.
Why this answer
For predictable, steady-state usage, Savings Plans (or matching Reserved Instances) offer substantial discounts in exchange for a 1- or 3-year usage commitment — with no architecture change.
Correct answer: B · Last reviewed 2026-10-25
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