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Question 169 of 1,786

Data Operations and Support →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Choosing Redshift Distribution Style — EVEN for Large Tables

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.

Your organization uses Amazon Redshift for analytical workloads. You have noticed that queries are slow on a large fact table. The table is distributed by KEY on the customer_id column and sorted by transaction_date. The table is frequently updated with new records. To improve query performance, you decide to implement a distribution style that reduces data movement. Which action should you take?

A
Change the distribution style to ALL to put a copy of the table on every node.
Why wrong: ALL distribution duplicates the entire table on every node, which increases storage and maintenance overhead, and is not suitable for large fact tables.
B
Change the distribution style to AUTO to let Redshift choose the best distribution.
Why wrong: AUTO distribution lets Redshift decide, but it may choose KEY or ALL, which might not be optimal for reducing data movement in this scenario.
C
Change the distribution style to EVEN to distribute rows evenly across all nodes.
EVEN distribution distributes rows evenly across all nodes, minimizing data movement during queries and loads, making it ideal for large, frequently updated tables.
D
Change the sort key to include customer_id as well.
Why wrong: Adding customer_id to the sort key does not reduce data movement; it only improves sort performance for queries filtering on that column.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Change the distribution style to EVEN to distribute rows evenly across all nodes.

Option C is correct: Changing to EVEN distribution distributes rows evenly across all nodes, reducing data movement during queries that do not benefit from the current KEY distribution on customer_id. This is especially useful for large, frequently updated tables where data skew or redistribution can cause performance issues. Option A (ALL) is wrong because it duplicates the entire table on every node, which is inefficient for large tables. Option B (AUTO) is wrong because it may not choose the optimal distribution style for this workload. Option D (adding a sort key) improves sort performance but does not directly reduce data movement.

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.

✗
Change the distribution style to ALL to put a copy of the table on every node.
Why it's wrong here
ALL distribution duplicates the entire table on every node, which increases storage and maintenance overhead, and is not suitable for large fact tables.
✗
Change the distribution style to AUTO to let Redshift choose the best distribution.
Why it's wrong here
AUTO distribution lets Redshift decide, but it may choose KEY or ALL, which might not be optimal for reducing data movement in this scenario.
✓
Change the distribution style to EVEN to distribute rows evenly across all nodes.
Why this is correct
EVEN distribution distributes rows evenly across all nodes, minimizing data movement during queries and loads, making it ideal for large, frequently updated tables.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Change the sort key to include customer_id as well.
Why it's wrong here
Adding customer_id to the sort key does not reduce data movement; it only improves sort performance for queries filtering on that column.

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

Scenario analysis trap
AUTO distribution lets Redshift decide, but it may choose KEY or ALL, which might not be optimal for reducing data movement in this scenario.

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.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this DEA-C01 question test?

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: Change the distribution style to EVEN to distribute rows evenly across all nodes. — Option C is correct: Changing to EVEN distribution distributes rows evenly across all nodes, reducing data movement during queries that do not benefit from the current KEY distribution on customer_id. This is especially useful for large, frequently updated tables where data skew or redistribution can cause performance issues. Option A (ALL) is wrong because it duplicates the entire table on every node, which is inefficient for large tables. Option B (AUTO) is wrong because it may not choose the optimal distribution style for this workload. Option D (adding a sort key) improves sort performance but does not directly reduce data movement.

What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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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.