When the exam tests your knowledge of Amazon EBS volume types, the key is to match the workload’s IOPS and throughput requirements to the right storage class. Databases often appear in scenarios, since they require predictable and sometimes extreme levels of performance.
(If you’re new to EBS or want a refresher on the different types — SSD, Throughput HDD, and Cold HDD — check out our dedicated post: “Mastering Amazon EBS Volume Types: IOPS vs Throughput Explained”.)
Let’s walk through a sample scenario, break down why Provisioned IOPS SSD is the correct choice, and summarize with cheat sheets, exam tips, and highlights.
Scenario
A financial services company is deploying a transactional database on a new Amazon EC2 instance. The workload requires
A single EBS volume that supports up to 20,000 IOPS.
Predictable, low-latency performance.
Storage that can handle high concurrency and random I/O patterns.
Solution – Provisioned IOPS SSD (io1/io2)
The company selects a Provisioned IOPS SSD EBS volume (io1 or io2), because:
These volumes support up to 64,000 IOPS per volume.
They are optimized for mission-critical transactional workloads, such as databases.
They deliver consistent performance, even under sustained heavy load.
Other EBS volume types either don’t meet the required IOPS or are designed for different use cases.
Cheat Sheet: EBS Volume Types and Use Cases
Volume Type | Max IOPS | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
io1 / io2 (Provisioned IOPS SSD) | Up to 64,000 | Critical databases, high-performance apps | Expensive but predictable, allows IOPS provisioning. |
gp3 (General Purpose SSD) | Up to 16,000 | Most workloads, dev/test, web apps | Balanced price/performance, default choice. |
st1 (Throughput-Optimized HDD) | ~500 | Big data, logs, streaming workloads | Optimized for throughput, not IOPS. |
sc1 (Cold HDD) | ~250 | Infrequent, archival access | Lowest cost, lowest performance. |
Cheat Sheet: IOPS in Context
IOPS Requirement | Correct Volume | Exam Keyword |
|---|---|---|
< 16,000 | gp3 (General Purpose SSD) | “Balanced workloads” |
20,000+ | io1/io2 (Provisioned IOPS SSD) | “Mission-critical database” |
Throughput over IOPS | st1 (HDD) | “Streaming, logs, big data” |
Very infrequent | sc1 (HDD) | “Archival, lowest cost” |
Exam Tips
Exam Tip | Key Point | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
io1/io2 = High IOPS | Best for 20,000+ IOPS | Correct answer for databases. |
gp3 = Balanced | Max 16,000 IOPS | Exam trap — won’t meet 20K requirement. |
st1/sc1 = HDD | Focus on throughput or archival | Not suitable for IOPS-heavy DBs. |
Match IOPS Clues | “Transactional DB + 20,000 IOPS” = io1/io2 | Helps eliminate wrong answers fast. |
Exam Highlights
Provisioned IOPS SSD = only choice for databases requiring >16,000 IOPS.
gp3 is a distractor — great for general workloads but maxes at 16,000 IOPS.
HDD-based storage is only for throughput-heavy or archival use cases.
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