- A
HASH
Why wrong: HASH is not a valid Amazon Redshift distribution style. Valid styles are KEY, ALL, EVEN, and AUTO.
- B
ALL
ALL is a valid distribution style; it replicates the entire table to every node.
- C
AUTO
AUTO is a valid distribution style; it lets Redshift automatically choose the distribution method.
- D
RANDOM
Why wrong: RANDOM is not a valid Amazon Redshift distribution style. Valid styles are KEY, ALL, EVEN, and AUTO.
- E
KEY
KEY is a valid distribution style; it distributes rows based on a specified column value.
Question 1,230 of 1,786
DEA-C01 KEY distribution style Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data store management. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. A key principle to apply: kEY distribution style. 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.
Which TWO are valid Amazon Redshift distribution styles? (Choose 2.)
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
✓
ALL
All three distribution styles—ALL, AUTO, and KEY—are valid in Amazon Redshift. AUTO lets Redshift choose the distribution style based on table size and query patterns, ALL copies the entire table to every node for small dimension tables, and KEY distributes rows based on a specified column. The options HASH and RANDOM are not valid distribution styles.
Key principle: KEY distribution style
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
HASH
Why it's wrong here
HASH is not a valid Amazon Redshift distribution style. Valid styles are KEY, ALL, EVEN, and AUTO.
- ✓
ALL
Why this is correct
ALL is a valid distribution style; it replicates the entire table to every node.
Related concept
KEY distribution style
- ✓
AUTO
Why this is correct
AUTO is a valid distribution style; it lets Redshift automatically choose the distribution method.
Related concept
KEY distribution style
- ✗
RANDOM
Why it's wrong here
RANDOM is not a valid Amazon Redshift distribution style. Valid styles are KEY, ALL, EVEN, and AUTO.
- ✓
KEY
Why this is correct
KEY is a valid distribution style; it distributes rows based on a specified column value.
Related concept
KEY distribution style
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap is that candidates may think AUTO is not a valid style because it’s newer, but it is a first-class distribution style in Amazon Redshift.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Redshift uses distribution styles to determine how data is partitioned across compute nodes to minimize data movement during joins and aggregations. The ALL style replicates the entire table on every node, which can significantly reduce network I/O for small dimension tables but is inefficient for large tables due to storage overhead. In real-world star schema designs, ALL is commonly applied to date or product dimension tables with fewer than a few million rows to avoid broadcast or redistribution steps in query plans.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- KEY distribution style
- ALL distribution style
TExam Day Tips
- 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
KEY distribution style
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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. KEY distribution style 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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review kEY distribution style, then practise related DEA-C01 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
- →
Data Store Management — study guide chapter
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Data Store Management practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DEA-C01 question test?
Data Store Management — This question tests Data Store Management — KEY distribution style.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: ALL — All three distribution styles—ALL, AUTO, and KEY—are valid in Amazon Redshift. AUTO lets Redshift choose the distribution style based on table size and query patterns, ALL copies the entire table to every node for small dimension tables, and KEY distributes rows based on a specified column. The options HASH and RANDOM are not valid distribution styles.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
Review kEY distribution style, then practise related DEA-C01 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
KEY distribution style
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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