The answer is that the EC2 instance is not sending metric data to CloudWatch. When a CloudWatch alarm shows INSUFFICIENT_DATA, it means the service has received no metric data points for the specified period, which most commonly occurs when the monitored resource—here, the EC2 instance—has stopped publishing CPUUtilization metrics, often due to the instance being stopped, terminated, or lacking the CloudWatch agent. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this concept tests your understanding of CloudWatch alarm states and metric streams; a common trap is confusing INSUFFICIENT_DATA with ALARM or OK, or assuming missing actions cause the state. Remember, INSUFFICIENT_DATA is not about thresholds or evaluation periods—it is purely a data availability issue. Memory tip: think “INSUFFICIENT = no input” to recall that the alarm has nothing to evaluate.
DEA-C01 Data Operations and Support Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data operations and support. 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.
An Amazon CloudWatch alarm is configured to monitor the CPUUtilization of an EC2 instance. The alarm state is 'INSUFFICIENT_DATA'. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The EC2 instance is not sending metric data to CloudWatch.
Option A is correct because INSUFFICIENT_DATA means no data points are available, often due to no metrics being published. Option B (no alarm actions) would not cause this state. Option C (threshold) is irrelevant. Option D (evaluation periods) could cause missing data if the metric didn't exist long enough, but the most common reason is no data published.
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.
✓
The EC2 instance is not sending metric data to CloudWatch.
Why this is correct
If the instance does not have the CloudWatch agent installed or is stopped, no CPU metrics are published.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The evaluation periods are set too low.
Why it's wrong here
Low evaluation periods would still show data if metrics exist; they might cause missing data only if the metric was just created.
✗
The alarm threshold is set too high.
Why it's wrong here
Threshold affects the alarm state (OK or ALARM), not INSUFFICIENT_DATA.
✗
The alarm does not have any actions configured.
Why it's wrong here
Actions are not required for the alarm to evaluate data.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Low evaluation periods would still show data if metrics exist; they might cause missing data only if the metric was just created.
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 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
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 Operations and Support — This question tests Data Operations and Support — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The EC2 instance is not sending metric data to CloudWatch. — Option A is correct because INSUFFICIENT_DATA means no data points are available, often due to no metrics being published. Option B (no alarm actions) would not cause this state. Option C (threshold) is irrelevant. Option D (evaluation periods) could cause missing data if the metric didn't exist long enough, but the most common reason is no data published.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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