The answer is AWS Glue ETL job, as it is the best-suited service for transforming JSON data from S3 into Parquet and loading it into Redshift while joining with a reference table in Amazon RDS. AWS Glue natively supports reading from S3, connecting to RDS via JDBC for the join, performing the transformation, and writing the output to Redshift, all within a single, serverless ETL job. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Glue’s ability to orchestrate multi-source joins and format conversions without additional infrastructure. A common trap is choosing Athena, which cannot natively join with RDS, or EMR, which requires more setup. Remember the memory tip: “Glue joins the dots” — it binds S3, JDBC, and Redshift together seamlessly.
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 needs to transform JSON data from an Amazon S3 bucket into Parquet format and load it into an Amazon Redshift cluster. The transformation includes joining with a reference table stored in Amazon RDS. Which AWS service is BEST suited for this task?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
AWS Glue ETL job
Option D is correct because AWS Glue ETL jobs can read from S3, connect to RDS via JDBC, perform joins and transformations, and write to Redshift. Option A (Athena) can query S3 but cannot join with RDS natively. Option B (EMR) is possible but more complex to set up. Option C (Data Pipeline) is older and less integrated.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
AWS Data Pipeline
Why it's wrong here
Data Pipeline is a legacy service; Glue is more modern for ETL.
✓
AWS Glue ETL job
Why this is correct
Glue ETL jobs can read from S3, connect to RDS via JDBC, transform, and write to Redshift efficiently.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Amazon Athena
Why it's wrong here
Athena queries data in S3 but cannot directly connect to RDS for joins in a single query.
✗
Amazon EMR with Spark
Why it's wrong here
EMR can do this but requires cluster management; Glue is more serverless and simpler.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DEA-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Data Ingestion and Transformation — This question tests Data Ingestion and Transformation — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: AWS Glue ETL job — Option D is correct because AWS Glue ETL jobs can read from S3, connect to RDS via JDBC, perform joins and transformations, and write to Redshift. Option A (Athena) can query S3 but cannot join with RDS natively. Option B (EMR) is possible but more complex to set up. Option C (Data Pipeline) is older and less integrated.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DEA-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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