The correct answer is Amazon AppFlow with an HTTP connector on a scheduled flow, as it provides the most direct serverless solution for ingesting HTTP API data to S3 with minimal operational overhead. AppFlow natively supports connecting to external HTTP APIs, fetching JSON data on an hourly schedule, and loading it directly into an S3 bucket without requiring any infrastructure management or custom code. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of managed data ingestion services versus more complex alternatives; a common trap is choosing AWS Glue ETL, which can technically perform the task but demands additional configuration for scheduling and transformation, or Lambda, which lacks built-in scheduling and requires manual orchestration. Kinesis Data Firehose is also a distractor because it expects a streaming source, not a scheduled API pull. Remember the memory tip: “AppFlow for API flow” — when you see an external HTTP API with a schedule, think AppFlow first.
DEA-C01 Data Ingestion and Transformation Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data ingestion and transformation. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 needs to ingest data from an external HTTP API into Amazon S3. The API returns JSON data for a list of users, updated hourly. The engineer wants to use a serverless solution with minimal operational overhead. Which AWS service should the engineer use?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Amazon AppFlow with an HTTP connector on a scheduled flow.
Option D is correct because Amazon AppFlow can connect to HTTP APIs and load data to S3 on a schedule. Option A is wrong because Kinesis Data Firehose requires a stream source. Option B is wrong because Glue ETL can do it but requires more configuration. Option C is wrong because Lambda alone lacks scheduling.
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.
✗
Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose with a custom HTTP endpoint.
AWS Lambda function triggered by CloudWatch Events.
Why it's wrong here
Lambda alone requires code for pagination and error handling.
✓
Amazon AppFlow with an HTTP connector on a scheduled flow.
Why this is correct
AppFlow is serverless and designed for API ingestion.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
AWS Glue ETL job triggered by EventBridge.
Why it's wrong here
Glue is possible but more complex than AppFlow.
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 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.
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 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: Amazon AppFlow with an HTTP connector on a scheduled flow. — Option D is correct because Amazon AppFlow can connect to HTTP APIs and load data to S3 on a schedule. Option A is wrong because Kinesis Data Firehose requires a stream source. Option B is wrong because Glue ETL can do it but requires more configuration. Option C is wrong because Lambda alone lacks scheduling.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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