Quick Answer
The correct answer is to use AWS Lambda, Kinesis Data Streams, and Kinesis Data Firehose. This combination works because Kinesis Data Streams ingests the streaming IoT data in near real-time, while Kinesis Data Firehose reliably delivers that data to Amazon S3 for storage and analytics, and Lambda functions can process each record as it arrives for transformations or enrichment before Firehose sends it to S3. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of real-time ingestion patterns versus batch processing—a common trap is choosing AWS Glue or Amazon EMR, which are designed for batch-oriented ETL and big data processing, not for continuous streaming ingestion. Remember that Firehose is the direct bridge to S3, while Streams provides the durable buffer, and Lambda adds the processing logic. A helpful memory tip is "Stream, Process, Deliver": Kinesis Data Streams for ingestion, Lambda for processing, and Firehose for delivery to S3.
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data operations and support. 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 data engineer is setting up a data pipeline to ingest streaming data from an IoT fleet. The data must be processed in near real-time and stored in Amazon S3 for analytics. Which THREE AWS services should the engineer consider using?
Amazon EMR
Why wrong: EMR is for large-scale batch processing.
Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose
Delivers streaming data to S3.
AWS Lambda
Processes records in near real-time.
AWS Glue
Why wrong: Glue is a batch ETL service.
Amazon Kinesis Data Streams
Ingests and stores streaming data.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose
Option A is correct because Kinesis Data Streams ingests streaming data. Option C is correct because Kinesis Data Firehose can deliver data to S3. Option D is correct because Lambda can process records in near real-time. Option B is incorrect because Glue is batch-oriented. Option E is incorrect because EMR is for big data processing, not streaming 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.
Amazon EMR
Why it's wrong here
EMR is for large-scale batch processing.
Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose
Why this is correct
Delivers streaming data to S3.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AWS Lambda
Why this is correct
Processes records in near real-time.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AWS Glue
Why it's wrong here
Glue is a batch ETL service.
Amazon Kinesis Data Streams
Why this is correct
Ingests and stores streaming data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
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
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.
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 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 Operations and Support — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Data Operations and Support 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 Operations and Support — This question tests Data Operations and Support — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose — Option A is correct because Kinesis Data Streams ingests streaming data. Option C is correct because Kinesis Data Firehose can deliver data to S3. Option D is correct because Lambda can process records in near real-time. Option B is incorrect because Glue is batch-oriented. Option E is incorrect because EMR is for big data processing, not streaming ingestion.
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.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
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 data engineer is designing a data pipeline that ingests streaming data from an IoT device fleet. The data must be processed in near real-time and stored in Amazon S3 for long-term analytics. Which TWO AWS services should the engineer use together to achieve this?
mediumWhy C: Option A is correct because Kinesis Data Streams ingests streaming data. Option C is correct because Kinesis Data Firehose can deliver data from the stream to S3. Option B is wrong because SQS is for message queues, not real-time streaming. Option D is wrong because Glue is for batch ETL, not real-time. Option E is wrong because Athena is a query service, not a delivery service.
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 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.