DJames617 Service Comparison
Step Functions vs SQS/EventBridge Orchestration
Workflow state and message routing solve different problems.
What They Have in Common
Each option can solve part of the scenario. The exam expects you to choose the one that satisfies the stated constraints with the right operational burden, security boundary, availability model, and cost behavior.
Key Differences
| Option | Primary model | Best use | Security | Availability | Operations and cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step Functions | Explicit workflow state | Ordered steps, branching, retries, compensation, audit of execution | IAM execution roles, input/output controls | Managed state with retries and execution history | State-transition pricing; no workflow servers |
| SQS | Queue | Independent work items, backlog, worker scaling | Queue policy, SSE, IAM | Durable backlog with at-least-once delivery | Request and storage cost; operate consumers and DLQs |
| EventBridge | Event routing | Rules, buses, SaaS/AWS events, scheduled triggers | Bus policy, target role, encryption | Retries, DLQ, archive/replay options | Published-event and archive cost; manage rules and targets |
Typical Exam Clues
Practice After Studying
Return to the certification guide that includes this comparison and launch domain training from there.