- A
Set up AWS DataSync to transfer the file from the API endpoint to S3
Why wrong: DataSync is for transferring data from on-premises or other cloud storage, not for API calls.
- B
Use Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose with a direct PUT
Why wrong: Designed for streaming, not for batch file downloads.
- C
Deploy an AWS Direct Connect connection to the external API for faster transfer
Why wrong: Direct Connect is a network service, not a data ingestion method.
- D
Schedule an AWS Lambda function to download the CSV file and upload it to Amazon S3
Simple, cost-effective, and serverless for daily files.
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 company needs to ingest data from an external API that returns CSV files daily. The files range from 100 MB to 2 GB. The data should be landed in Amazon S3 and then transformed using AWS Glue. Which ingestion method is most cost-effective and requires the least operational overhead?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"least"Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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
Schedule an AWS Lambda function to download the CSV file and upload it to Amazon S3
Option D is correct because scheduling an AWS Lambda function to download the CSV file from the external API and upload it to Amazon S3 is the most cost-effective and operationally lightweight approach. Lambda can handle files up to 2 GB (with appropriate memory and timeout settings) and runs on a serverless, pay-per-execution model, eliminating the need for infrastructure management. This method directly addresses the daily, batch-oriented nature of the data ingestion without requiring additional services or complex configurations.
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.
- ✗
Set up AWS DataSync to transfer the file from the API endpoint to S3
Why it's wrong here
DataSync is for transferring data from on-premises or other cloud storage, not for API calls.
- ✗
Use Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose with a direct PUT
Why it's wrong here
Designed for streaming, not for batch file downloads.
- ✗
Deploy an AWS Direct Connect connection to the external API for faster transfer
Why it's wrong here
Direct Connect is a network service, not a data ingestion method.
- ✓
Schedule an AWS Lambda function to download the CSV file and upload it to Amazon S3
Why this is correct
Simple, cost-effective, and serverless for daily files.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often over-engineer the solution by choosing streaming or dedicated network services (like Kinesis Firehose or Direct Connect) for a simple batch ingestion task, failing to recognize that a serverless, scheduled Lambda function is the most cost-effective and low-overhead approach for daily CSV file transfers from an external API.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS Lambda supports a maximum execution timeout of 15 minutes and a maximum memory of 10,240 MB, which is sufficient to download and upload a 2 GB CSV file if the network bandwidth and API response times are adequate. For files approaching the 2 GB limit, using Lambda with S3 multipart upload can improve reliability and reduce memory pressure. In real-world scenarios, you would also need to handle API authentication, retries for transient failures, and possibly use AWS Step Functions for orchestration if the download is time-sensitive or requires complex error handling.
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.
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
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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 |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Data Ingestion and Transformation — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Data Ingestion and Transformation practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All DEA-C01 questions
1,786 questions across all exam domains
- →
AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
DEA-C01 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related DEA-C01 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Data Ingestion and Transformation practice questions
Practise DEA-C01 questions linked to Data Ingestion and Transformation.
Data Operations and Support practice questions
Practise DEA-C01 questions linked to Data Operations and Support.
Data Security and Governance practice questions
Practise DEA-C01 questions linked to Data Security and Governance.
Data Store Management practice questions
Practise DEA-C01 questions linked to Data Store Management.
DEA-C01 fundamentals practice questions
Practise DEA-C01 questions linked to DEA-C01 fundamentals.
DEA-C01 scenario practice questions
Practise DEA-C01 questions linked to DEA-C01 scenario.
DEA-C01 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise DEA-C01 questions linked to DEA-C01 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free DEA-C01 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DEA-C01 question test?
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: Schedule an AWS Lambda function to download the CSV file and upload it to Amazon S3 — Option D is correct because scheduling an AWS Lambda function to download the CSV file from the external API and upload it to Amazon S3 is the most cost-effective and operationally lightweight approach. Lambda can handle files up to 2 GB (with appropriate memory and timeout settings) and runs on a serverless, pay-per-execution model, eliminating the need for infrastructure management. This method directly addresses the daily, batch-oriented nature of the data ingestion without requiring additional services or complex configurations.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More DEA-C01 practice questions
- A data pipeline uses Kinesis Data Firehose to deliver streaming data to an S3 bucket. The data volume spikes occasionall…
- An e-commerce company uses AWS Glue to run ETL jobs that transform clickstream data from Amazon S3. The job reads Parque…
- A data engineering team uses Amazon Kinesis Data Analytics for Apache Flink to process streaming data. They notice that…
- A company uses AWS Glue to process streaming data from Amazon Kinesis Data Streams. The job reads JSON records and write…
- A data engineer applies the above bucket policy to an S3 bucket containing sensitive data. The goal is to allow only enc…
- A company uses AWS Glue to catalog data in Amazon S3. The security team requires that all sensitive data be identified a…
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.