Quick Answer
The answer is the `ThrottledRequests` CloudWatch metric. This metric specifically counts the number of requests to a DynamoDB table that are rejected due to exceeding the table’s provisioned read or write capacity, making it the precise indicator for throttling events. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of DynamoDB’s capacity management and the direct mapping between service behavior and CloudWatch observability. A common trap is confusing `ThrottledRequests` with `ConsumedReadCapacityUnits` or `WriteThrottleEvents`—the latter is a DynamoDB Streams record, not a CloudWatch metric. Remember that CloudWatch metrics are always prefixed at the service level, so `ThrottledRequests` lives under the DynamoDB namespace and is the only metric that directly reflects a throttled API call. A simple memory tip: “ThrottledRequests = requests that got the door slammed in their face,” while capacity metrics only tell you how much was used, not what was rejected.
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data operations and support. 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 data engineer needs to monitor Amazon DynamoDB table metrics to detect throttled requests. Which CloudWatch metric should the engineer set an alarm on?
ReadThrottleEvents
Why wrong: While related, ThrottledRequests is the standard metric for all throttled requests.
SuccessfulRequestLatency
Why wrong: This measures latency, not throttling.
ThrottledRequests
This metric directly indicates requests that were throttled.
ConsumedWriteCapacityUnits
Why wrong: This metric shows consumed capacity, not throttling.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
ThrottledRequests
Option C is correct because `ThrottledRequests` is the specific Amazon CloudWatch metric that tracks the number of requests to a DynamoDB table that are throttled due to exceeding the provisioned throughput capacity. This metric directly reflects throttling events, making it the appropriate choice for setting an alarm to detect throttled requests.
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.
ReadThrottleEvents
Why it's wrong here
While related, ThrottledRequests is the standard metric for all throttled requests.
SuccessfulRequestLatency
Why it's wrong here
This measures latency, not throttling.
ThrottledRequests
Why this is correct
This metric directly indicates requests that were throttled.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
ConsumedWriteCapacityUnits
Why it's wrong here
This metric shows consumed capacity, not throttling.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse `ThrottledRequests` with `ReadThrottleEvents` or `WriteThrottleEvents`, which are not actual CloudWatch metrics, leading them to select a plausible-sounding but incorrect option.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This metric shows consumed capacity, not throttling.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, DynamoDB throttles requests when the consumed read/write capacity exceeds the provisioned throughput for a sustained period, and the `ThrottledRequests` metric aggregates all throttled operations (reads, writes, and queries) at the table or global secondary index level. A real-world scenario where this matters is when a sudden traffic spike causes throttling, and setting an alarm on `ThrottledRequests` allows engineers to trigger auto-scaling or alert operations before application impact. Note that DynamoDB also provides `ThrottledGetRecords` for streams, but for table-level throttling, `ThrottledRequests` is the correct metric.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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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: ThrottledRequests — Option C is correct because `ThrottledRequests` is the specific Amazon CloudWatch metric that tracks the number of requests to a DynamoDB table that are throttled due to exceeding the provisioned throughput capacity. This metric directly reflects throttling events, making it the appropriate choice for setting an alarm to detect throttled requests.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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.
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