These are AWS’s container services, and the exam wants you to tell them apart. Containers package an app with everything it needs to run; these services run those containers at scale.
The three, sorted out
ECS is AWS’s own container orchestrator — simpler, tightly integrated. EKS is managed Kubernetes — choose it when the scenario mentions Kubernetes or portability across clouds. Fargate isn’t a separate orchestrator; it’s the serverless launch type that runs ECS or EKS containers without you managing the EC2 servers underneath.
Test yourself
A team wants to run containers without managing any of the underlying EC2 servers, and they’re already using ECS. What should they use?
- EC2 launch type
- AWS Fargate
- Amazon EKS
- AWS Lambda
👉 Click to reveal the answer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Fargate is the serverless launch type that runs ECS (or EKS) containers with no servers to manage. The EC2 launch type (A) means managing instances; EKS (C) is Kubernetes, a different orchestrator; Lambda (D) is functions, not containers.
Related topics
Amazon EC2 · AWS Lambda · Auto Scaling
Ready to pass the AWS Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03)?
Stop guessing whether you’re ready. Our full-length, exam-realistic practice exams put you through the exact question style you’ll face — with a detailed explanation behind every answer, so you learn why, not just what.
- ✓ 6 full-length practice exams
- ✓ A detailed explanation for every single question
- ✓ Realistic, scenario-based questions — not memory dumps
- ✓ Lifetime access, kept current for 2026
Get the SAA-C03 Practice Exams →or try 25 free questions first