DEA-C01 Data Store Management Practice Question
A data engineer needs to store semi-structured JSON transaction logs for analytics. The logs are written once and rarely accessed. The storage must be cost-effective. Which AWS service should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to choose DynamoDB or Redshift because they support JSON natively, but they overlook the core requirement of cost-effective storage for rarely accessed data, which is best met by S3's low-cost object storage and lifecycle management features.
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 S3
Amazon S3 is the correct choice because it provides highly durable, cost-effective object storage ideal for semi-structured JSON transaction logs that are written once and rarely accessed. S3's lifecycle policies can automatically transition such infrequently accessed data to S3 Glacier or S3 Glacier Deep Archive for even lower storage costs, making it the most economical option for this use case.
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 S3
Why this is correct
S3 is cost-effective for infrequently accessed semi-structured data.
- ✗
Amazon DynamoDB
Why it's wrong here
DynamoDB is optimized for real-time access, not archival storage.
- ✗
Amazon RDS
Why it's wrong here
RDS is for relational data, not semi-structured.
- ✗
Amazon Redshift
Why it's wrong here
Redshift is for analytics on structured data, not cost-effective for logs.
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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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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