- A
Amazon RDS for MySQL
Why wrong: Incorrect. Amazon RDS for MySQL is a relational database, not a NoSQL database. It does not natively auto-scale throughput capacity without manual intervention (Aurora Serverless can, but standard RDS requires manual scaling). It also requires some database management tasks such as selecting instance types and managing read replicas.
- B
Amazon DynamoDB
Correct. Amazon DynamoDB is a fully managed NoSQL database that offers single-digit millisecond latency at any scale. It supports on-demand capacity mode and auto scaling to automatically handle unpredictable traffic spikes without manual intervention. It is serverless, so developers do not manage servers or clusters.
- C
Amazon Redshift
Why wrong: Incorrect. Amazon Redshift is a petabyte-scale data warehouse optimized for analytical queries (OLAP). It does not provide single-digit millisecond latency for transactional workloads and is not designed as a NoSQL database for web applications. It also requires manual scaling of nodes.
- D
Amazon ElastiCache
Why wrong: Incorrect. Amazon ElastiCache is an in-memory caching service (Redis or Memcached) used to accelerate access to data stored elsewhere, not a durable primary database. It does not provide built-in auto scaling for throughput in the same way DynamoDB does, and it is not a NoSQL database for persisting application data.
CLF-C02 Cloud Technology and Services Practice Question
This CLF-C02 practice question tests your understanding of cloud technology and services. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company is building a web application that requires a fully managed NoSQL database with single-digit millisecond latency at any scale. The application will experience unpredictable traffic spikes, and the database must automatically scale throughput capacity up and down without manual intervention. The developers want to focus on application code rather than database management tasks. Which AWS database service should the company choose?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Amazon DynamoDB
Amazon DynamoDB is a fully managed NoSQL key-value and document database that delivers single-digit millisecond latency at any scale. It supports automatic scaling of read/write throughput capacity via Auto Scaling policies, eliminating the need for manual intervention. This makes it ideal for web applications with unpredictable traffic spikes, as it offloads all database management tasks to AWS.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Amazon RDS for MySQL
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Amazon RDS for MySQL is a relational database, not a NoSQL database. It does not natively auto-scale throughput capacity without manual intervention (Aurora Serverless can, but standard RDS requires manual scaling). It also requires some database management tasks such as selecting instance types and managing read replicas.
- ✓
Amazon DynamoDB
Why this is correct
Correct. Amazon DynamoDB is a fully managed NoSQL database that offers single-digit millisecond latency at any scale. It supports on-demand capacity mode and auto scaling to automatically handle unpredictable traffic spikes without manual intervention. It is serverless, so developers do not manage servers or clusters.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Amazon Redshift
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Amazon Redshift is a petabyte-scale data warehouse optimized for analytical queries (OLAP). It does not provide single-digit millisecond latency for transactional workloads and is not designed as a NoSQL database for web applications. It also requires manual scaling of nodes.
- ✗
Amazon ElastiCache
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Amazon ElastiCache is an in-memory caching service (Redis or Memcached) used to accelerate access to data stored elsewhere, not a durable primary database. It does not provide built-in auto scaling for throughput in the same way DynamoDB does, and it is not a NoSQL database for persisting application data.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse Amazon ElastiCache (a caching layer) with a fully managed NoSQL database, overlooking that ElastiCache is not a persistent database and lacks automatic throughput scaling for unpredictable write-heavy workloads.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DynamoDB achieves single-digit millisecond latency through its distributed architecture, where data is automatically partitioned and replicated across multiple Availability Zones using consistent hashing. Its on-demand capacity mode can instantly absorb traffic spikes without pre-provisioning, while provisioned capacity with Auto Scaling adjusts throughput based on actual usage patterns. A real-world scenario is a gaming leaderboard that sees 10x traffic during tournaments; DynamoDB handles this seamlessly without any database administration overhead.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CLF-C02 question test?
Cloud Technology and Services — This question tests Cloud Technology and Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Amazon DynamoDB — Amazon DynamoDB is a fully managed NoSQL key-value and document database that delivers single-digit millisecond latency at any scale. It supports automatic scaling of read/write throughput capacity via Auto Scaling policies, eliminating the need for manual intervention. This makes it ideal for web applications with unpredictable traffic spikes, as it offloads all database management tasks to AWS.
What should I do if I get this CLF-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This CLF-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CLF-C02 exam.
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