Quick Answer
The answer is AWS Transfer Family, the correct choice because it provides a fully managed, serverless SFTP endpoint that can directly receive CSV files from an SFTP server and automatically store them in Amazon S3, eliminating the need to manage compute infrastructure or write custom code for the transfer. This service is ideal for ingesting CSV files from SFTP to S3 using AWS Transfer Family because it handles the hourly file transfers ranging from 10 MB to 500 MB with minimal operational overhead, as it natively integrates with S3 and supports automated workflows. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of managed transfer services versus self-managed solutions like running an SFTP server on EC2 or writing custom Lambda functions—a common trap is choosing AWS DataSync or AWS Glue, but those are designed for different use cases (DataSync for large-scale migrations, Glue for ETL). Memory tip: think "Transfer Family = SFTP direct to S3, no servers to manage."
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data ingestion and transformation. 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 designing a data ingestion pipeline to load CSV files from an SFTP server into Amazon S3. The files are generated hourly and range from 10 MB to 500 MB. Which AWS service should be used to orchestrate the transfer with minimal operational overhead?
AWS Glue
Why wrong: Glue is for ETL jobs, not for file transfer.
Amazon AppFlow
Why wrong: AppFlow integrates with SaaS applications, not SFTP servers.
AWS Transfer Family
AWS Transfer Family provides managed SFTP with automatic uploads to S3.
AWS DataSync
Why wrong: DataSync does not support SFTP as a source; it supports NFS, SMB, and self-managed object storage.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
AWS Transfer Family
AWS Transfer Family is the correct choice because it provides a fully managed, serverless SFTP endpoint that can directly receive files from an SFTP server and automatically store them in Amazon S3. This eliminates the need to manage any compute infrastructure or write custom code for the transfer, minimizing operational overhead for hourly CSV file ingestion.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
AWS Glue
Why it's wrong here
Glue is for ETL jobs, not for file transfer.
Amazon AppFlow
Why it's wrong here
AppFlow integrates with SaaS applications, not SFTP servers.
AWS Transfer Family
Why this is correct
AWS Transfer Family provides managed SFTP with automatic uploads to S3.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AWS DataSync
Why it's wrong here
DataSync does not support SFTP as a source; it supports NFS, SMB, and self-managed object storage.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse AWS DataSync (which requires an on-premises agent and does not support SFTP) with Transfer Family, or they mistakenly think AWS Glue can handle SFTP ingestion because it supports custom connectors, but Glue is not designed for real-time file transfer orchestration.
Detailed technical explanation
AWS Transfer Family supports SFTP, FTPS, and FTP protocols, and each server endpoint can be configured with a custom identity provider (e.g., AWS Directory Service, Lambda) or a service-managed user store. Under the hood, it uses a managed endpoint that scales automatically based on connection load, and files are written directly to S3 using multipart uploads for large files, ensuring durability and low latency. In a real-world scenario, if the CSV files exceed 5 GB, Transfer Family automatically switches to multipart upload to handle the transfer efficiently.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Data Ingestion and Transformation — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Data Ingestion and Transformation practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All DEA-C01 questions
1,786 questions across all exam domains
AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
DEA-C01 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise DEA-C01 questions linked to Data Ingestion and Transformation.
Practise DEA-C01 questions linked to Data Operations and Support.
Practise DEA-C01 questions linked to Data Security and Governance.
Practise DEA-C01 questions linked to Data Store Management.
Practise DEA-C01 questions linked to DEA-C01 fundamentals.
Practise DEA-C01 questions linked to DEA-C01 scenario.
Practise DEA-C01 questions linked to DEA-C01 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Data Ingestion and Transformation — This question tests Data Ingestion and Transformation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: AWS Transfer Family — AWS Transfer Family is the correct choice because it provides a fully managed, serverless SFTP endpoint that can directly receive files from an SFTP server and automatically store them in Amazon S3. This eliminates the need to manage any compute infrastructure or write custom code for the transfer, minimizing operational overhead for hourly CSV file ingestion.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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 DEA-C01 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 DEA-C01 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.