DEA-C01 Data Operations and Support Practice Question
A data engineer is monitoring an Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL instance. The engineer wants to set up alerts for high CPU utilization and low free storage space. Which AWS services can be used together to achieve this? (Choose TWO.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse AWS CloudTrail (audit logging) with CloudWatch (monitoring), or think AWS Config can monitor performance metrics instead of just configuration compliance.
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 Simple Notification Service (SNS)
Amazon CloudWatch is the correct service because it can monitor RDS metrics such as CPUUtilization and FreeStorageSpace, and trigger alarms based on thresholds. Amazon SNS is correct because it can receive CloudWatch alarm notifications and deliver them via email, SMS, or other endpoints, enabling the data engineer to be alerted when high CPU or low storage conditions occur.
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 Simple Notification Service (SNS)
Why this is correct
SNS delivers alarm notifications.
- ✓
Amazon CloudWatch
Why this is correct
CloudWatch monitors metrics and can trigger alarms.
- ✗
AWS CloudTrail
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail logs API calls, not metrics.
- ✗
AWS Config
Why it's wrong here
Config tracks resource configuration changes, not metrics.
- ✗
Amazon Route 53
Why it's wrong here
Route 53 is DNS service.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
Go deeper
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.