The correct answer is to configure DynamoDB auto scaling to adjust write capacity automatically. This resolves write throttling because auto scaling dynamically increases provisioned write capacity units (WCU) during sudden traffic spikes and decreases them during lulls, ensuring the table can handle peak load without manual intervention. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of DynamoDB capacity management versus common distractors like DAX (which only accelerates reads) or global tables (which handle replication, not throughput). A frequent trap is assuming that well-distributed partition keys alone prevent throttling—they distribute load, but without auto scaling, your provisioned capacity remains fixed and can still be exceeded. Memory tip: “Auto scaling writes away the spikes”—think of it as a thermostat that turns up the WCU when traffic heats up, then cools it down.
DEA-C01 Data Store Management Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data store management. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 uses Amazon DynamoDB as the primary data store for a gaming application. The application experiences sudden spikes in traffic. The data engineer notices that write requests are throttled during peak times. The partition keys are well-distributed. What should the data engineer do to reduce throttling?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure DynamoDB auto scaling to adjust write capacity automatically.
Option C is correct because DynamoDB auto scaling adjusts capacity based on load, preventing throttling during spikes. Option A is wrong because DAX is a cache for reads, not writes. Option B is wrong because global tables improve latency and disaster recovery, not write capacity. Option D is wrong because increasing partition count is automatic if throughput increases, but without auto scaling, throttling still happens.
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.
✗
Use DynamoDB global tables to distribute writes across regions.
Why it's wrong here
Global tables replicate writes, but don't increase write capacity in a single region.
✓
Configure DynamoDB auto scaling to adjust write capacity automatically.
Why this is correct
Auto scaling increases write capacity during spikes, reducing throttling.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Increase the number of partition keys to improve write distribution.
Why it's wrong here
Partition count is determined by throughput and storage; manual increase not possible.
✗
Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) to cache write operations.
Why it's wrong here
DAX caches reads, not writes; writes go directly to DynamoDB.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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.
Data Store Management — This question tests Data Store Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure DynamoDB auto scaling to adjust write capacity automatically. — Option C is correct because DynamoDB auto scaling adjusts capacity based on load, preventing throttling during spikes. Option A is wrong because DAX is a cache for reads, not writes. Option B is wrong because global tables improve latency and disaster recovery, not write capacity. Option D is wrong because increasing partition count is automatic if throughput increases, but without auto scaling, throttling still happens.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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 →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company uses Amazon DynamoDB as the primary data store for a gaming application. The application stores user profiles and game state. During peak hours, the application experiences throttling on writes to the UserProfiles table. The table's read capacity is underutilized. Which solution should resolve the write throttling?
easy
✓ A.Increase the provisioned write capacity units for the table.
B.Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) on the table.
C.Add a global secondary index (GSI) to the table.
D.Configure auto scaling for read capacity units.
Why A: Write throttling occurs when the number of write requests exceeds the provisioned write capacity units (WCUs) for the DynamoDB table. Since the read capacity is underutilized, the correct solution is to increase the provisioned WCUs to accommodate the peak write traffic. This directly addresses the capacity deficit without affecting read operations.
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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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.
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