- A
The Lambda function's reserved concurrency is set too low
Low concurrency limits parallel processing of shards.
- B
The DynamoDB table's write capacity is throttling writes
Why wrong: Could cause lag but Lambda would retry; concurrency is more direct.
- C
The number of shards is insufficient for the data volume
Why wrong: Could be a cause, but not the most likely given existing setup.
- D
The Lambda function is not authorized to read from Kinesis
Why wrong: Would cause errors, not lag.
Question 843 of 1,786
DEA-C01 Data Operations and Support Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data operations and support. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 pipeline using Amazon Kinesis Data Streams is experiencing high consumer lag. The stream has 10 shards. The consumer is an AWS Lambda function that processes each record and writes to Amazon DynamoDB. What is the MOST likely cause of the lag?
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 Lambda function's reserved concurrency is set too low
The most likely cause of high consumer lag is that the Lambda function's reserved concurrency is set too low (Option A). Each Kinesis shard is processed by a single Lambda invocation, and if the function's concurrency limit is less than the number of shards (10), some shards will not be processed in parallel, leading to lag. Option B (DynamoDB write capacity throttling) could cause lag but is less common if the table is properly provisioned. Option C (insufficient shards) is unlikely because 10 shards already provide parallelism; increasing shards would improve throughput only if Lambda concurrency is not the bottleneck. Option D (authorization) would cause errors, not just lag.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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 Lambda function's reserved concurrency is set too low
Why this is correct
Low concurrency limits parallel processing of shards.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✗
The DynamoDB table's write capacity is throttling writes
Why it's wrong here
Could cause lag but Lambda would retry; concurrency is more direct.
- ✗
The number of shards is insufficient for the data volume
Why it's wrong here
Could be a cause, but not the most likely given existing setup.
- ✗
The Lambda function is not authorized to read from Kinesis
Why it's wrong here
Would cause errors, not lag.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related DEA-C01 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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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 — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The Lambda function's reserved concurrency is set too low — The most likely cause of high consumer lag is that the Lambda function's reserved concurrency is set too low (Option A). Each Kinesis shard is processed by a single Lambda invocation, and if the function's concurrency limit is less than the number of shards (10), some shards will not be processed in parallel, leading to lag. Option B (DynamoDB write capacity throttling) could cause lag but is less common if the table is properly provisioned. Option C (insufficient shards) is unlikely because 10 shards already provide parallelism; increasing shards would improve throughput only if Lambda concurrency is not the bottleneck. Option D (authorization) would cause errors, not just lag.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related DEA-C01 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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