WGU Cloud Deployment and Operations Exam - Topic 1 Question 3 Discussion

Actual exam question for WGU's Cloud Deployment and Operations exam

Question #: 3
Topic #: 1

[All Cloud Deployment and Operations Questions]

(A company builds an application that renders 3D movies for its users. The application does this by spawning a fleet of instances that each take a slice of the workload and then render a few hundred frames in around 30 minutes. If processing on a node is interrupted, the work can be moved to other running nodes. The cost to users is based on the underlying AWS cost plus a margin. Which EC2 instance type is most suitable to run workload pattern at the lowest cost?)

ASpot Instance

BOn-Demand Instance

CDedicated Instance

DReserved Instance

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: A

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Spot Instances are the most suitable EC2 instance type for this workload pattern, offering the lowest cost for short, interruptible tasks like 3D rendering, where work can be redistributed if interrupted. This aligns with the company's cost-plus pricing model. The WGU Cloud Deployment and Operations Study Guide (Section 7.3, EC2 Instance Types) states, 'Spot Instances provide significant cost savings (up to 90% off On-Demand) for fault-tolerant, short-term workloads like rendering, where interruptions can be handled by redistributing tasks to other nodes.' On-Demand, Dedicated, and Reserved Instances are more expensive and less flexible for this use case.

by Alana at Nov 24, 2025, 05:12 PM

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Carrol

9 hours ago

I think Spot Instances are the best choice.

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Gearldine

6 days ago

Reserved Instances might save money in the long run if usage is steady.

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Joanna

11 days ago

Wait, can Spot Instances really handle interruptions like that?

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Jenelle

16 days ago

Definitely Spot Instances for cost efficiency!

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Antonio

21 days ago

Reserved Instance, baby! Lock in those savings for the long haul.

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Glendora

26 days ago

Hmm, Dedicated Instance? Sounds fancy, but is it really necessary?

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Solange

1 month ago

On-Demand is the way to go. Reliability is key for this kind of workload.

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Alayna

1 month ago

I’m a bit confused about Dedicated Instances; I don’t think they’re cost-effective for this type of workload, but I need to double-check.

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Maira

1 month ago

I practiced a question about cost optimization before, and I feel like Reserved Instances could save money, but they require a commitment.

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Estrella

2 months ago

I think On-Demand Instances might be more suitable since they provide flexibility, but I wonder if they would be more expensive in the long run.

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Carla

2 months ago

Dedicated Instances seem like overkill for this use case. I'd probably lean towards either Spot or On-Demand, but I'll need to weigh the pros and cons of each more carefully.

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Oretha

2 months ago

The question mentions the cost is based on the underlying AWS cost plus a margin, so I'm wondering if a Reserved Instance might be the way to go to lock in a lower base rate.

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Glenn

2 months ago

I think On-Demand Instances are more reliable though.

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Vanda

2 months ago

Spot Instance all the way! Gotta love those sweet, sweet discounts.

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Quiana

2 months ago

Spot Instances are usually the cheapest option!

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Buddy

3 months ago

I'm not so sure about that. With the need for reliability and the 30-minute rendering time, a Spot Instance might not be the best choice. Maybe an On-Demand Instance would be more suitable.

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Tom

3 months ago

I remember that Spot Instances are often the cheapest option, but I'm not sure if they're reliable enough for rendering tasks.

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Ahmad

3 months ago

Okay, let's see. Since the workload can be interrupted and moved to other nodes, I'm thinking a Spot Instance might be the most cost-effective option here.

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Brandon

3 months ago

Hmm, this seems like a tricky one. I'll need to think carefully about the different instance types and how they might impact the cost for this workload.

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