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Question 856 of 1,786

Data Ingestion and Transformation →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is that the Lambda function timeout is set too low for the processing time required. When troubleshooting Lambda function timeout when processing Kinesis Data Streams records, the core issue is that the default 3-second timeout is often insufficient for transforming records and writing to Amazon S3, especially if the transformation logic is complex or the S3 PUT operation experiences latency. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how Lambda’s execution timeout interacts with stream-based triggers—a common trap is to blame Kinesis retention or batch size, but the average 5 KB record size and only 2 shards mean the payload is well within limits. Remember that Lambda’s timeout is a per-invocation ceiling, not a scaling constraint, so if processing takes longer than configured, the function is killed mid-execution. A useful memory tip: think of the timeout as a countdown timer—if your code can’t finish before it hits zero, the invocation fails, regardless of data volume or concurrency.

DEA-C01 Data Ingestion and Transformation Practice Question

This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data ingestion and transformation. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 ingesting streaming data from multiple sources using Amazon Kinesis Data Streams. The data is then processed by an AWS Lambda function that transforms the records and writes them to an Amazon S3 bucket. The Lambda function is failing intermittently with timeout errors. The average record size is 5 KB, and the shard count is 2. What is the MOST likely cause of the timeout errors?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

Question 1hardmultiple choice

Full question →

A
The Lambda function timeout is set too low for the processing time required.
The default Lambda timeout is 3 seconds, which may not be sufficient for processing each batch of records and writing to S3.
B
The Kinesis data retention period is too short, causing data to be lost before processing.
Why wrong: The retention period does not affect Lambda timeout errors; it affects how long data is available for reprocessing.
C
The Lambda function's reserved concurrency is set too low, causing throttling.
Why wrong: Throttling would cause invocation failures, not timeout errors.
D
The Lambda function is receiving too many records per invocation, exceeding the 6 MB payload limit.
Why wrong: The default batch size is 100 records, which at 5 KB each is 500 KB, well under the 6 MB limit.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

The Lambda function timeout is set too low for the processing time required.

Option B is correct because the default Lambda timeout is 3 seconds, which may not be sufficient for processing and writing records, especially if the transformation logic is complex or the S3 write takes longer than expected. Option A is incorrect because Kinesis Data Streams has a default retention period of 24 hours, which is unlikely to cause timeouts. Option C is incorrect because the batch size of records per Lambda invocation can be adjusted, but the default is 100 records, which at 5 KB each is only 500 KB, well within Lambda limits. Option D is incorrect because Lambda concurrency limits affect scaling, not individual invocation timeouts.

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.

✓
The Lambda function timeout is set too low for the processing time required.
Why this is correct
The default Lambda timeout is 3 seconds, which may not be sufficient for processing each batch of records and writing to S3.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The Kinesis data retention period is too short, causing data to be lost before processing.
Why it's wrong here
The retention period does not affect Lambda timeout errors; it affects how long data is available for reprocessing.
✗
The Lambda function's reserved concurrency is set too low, causing throttling.
Why it's wrong here
Throttling would cause invocation failures, not timeout errors.
✗
The Lambda function is receiving too many records per invocation, exceeding the 6 MB payload limit.
Why it's wrong here
The default batch size is 100 records, which at 5 KB each is 500 KB, well under the 6 MB limit.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.

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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.

TExam Day Tips

Underline the problem statement mentally.
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

A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which DEA-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this DEA-C01 question test?

Data Ingestion and Transformation — This question tests Data Ingestion and Transformation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The Lambda function timeout is set too low for the processing time required. — Option B is correct because the default Lambda timeout is 3 seconds, which may not be sufficient for processing and writing records, especially if the transformation logic is complex or the S3 write takes longer than expected. Option A is incorrect because Kinesis Data Streams has a default retention period of 24 hours, which is unlikely to cause timeouts. Option C is incorrect because the batch size of records per Lambda invocation can be adjusted, but the default is 100 records, which at 5 KB each is only 500 KB, well within Lambda limits. Option D is incorrect because Lambda concurrency limits affect scaling, not individual invocation timeouts.

What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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