- A
The partition key is causing a hot partition
Hot partitions throttle even if overall capacity is sufficient.
- B
The table's read capacity is set too low
Why wrong: Throttling is for write requests, not read.
- C
The table's auto scaling is disabled
Why wrong: Auto scaling is enabled as per stem.
- D
The table is using global tables without conflict resolution
Why wrong: Global tables replicate writes but don't cause throttling.
Question 161 of 1,786
DEA-C01 Data Store Management Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data store management. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 data engineer is troubleshooting an Amazon DynamoDB table that has frequent throttling exceptions for write requests. The table has auto scaling enabled. 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 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
✓
The partition key is causing a hot partition
Auto scaling adjusts capacity based on utilization, but it cannot prevent throttling caused by a hot partition. If a single partition key value receives a disproportionate share of write traffic, that partition's throughput limit (3,000 WCU or 10 MB per partition) is exceeded, triggering ProvisionedThroughputExceededException. Auto scaling operates at the table level, not per partition, so it cannot resolve this imbalance.
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 partition key is causing a hot partition
Why this is correct
Hot partitions throttle even if overall capacity is sufficient.
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 table's read capacity is set too low
Why it's wrong here
Throttling is for write requests, not read.
- ✗
The table's auto scaling is disabled
Why it's wrong here
Auto scaling is enabled as per stem.
- ✗
The table is using global tables without conflict resolution
Why it's wrong here
Global tables replicate writes but don't cause throttling.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume auto scaling automatically prevents all throttling, but it only adjusts table-level capacity and cannot fix uneven data access patterns like a hot partition.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DynamoDB partitions data by hash of the partition key; each partition supports up to 3,000 read capacity units (RCU) or 1,000 write capacity units (WCU) and 10 GB of storage. Auto scaling adjusts table-level capacity but cannot redistribute load across partitions. A hot partition occurs when a single key (e.g., a popular user ID) receives traffic exceeding that partition's limits, causing throttling even if table-level capacity is sufficient.
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 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.
Visual reference
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.
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The partition key is causing a hot partition — Auto scaling adjusts capacity based on utilization, but it cannot prevent throttling caused by a hot partition. If a single partition key value receives a disproportionate share of write traffic, that partition's throughput limit (3,000 WCU or 10 MB per partition) is exceeded, triggering ProvisionedThroughputExceededException. Auto scaling operates at the table level, not per partition, so it cannot resolve this imbalance.
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: "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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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