- A
Launch a t3.nano EC2 instance that runs a script to receive HTTP POST requests and write to S3.
Why wrong: Launching a t3.nano EC2 instance requires managing the server, patching, and scaling. It is less operationally efficient than serverless options and may not be as cost-effective at low volumes due to fixed running costs.
- B
Use Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose with HTTP endpoint as the source, and configure S3 as the destination.
Why wrong: Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose does not natively accept HTTP POST as a source. It integrates with services like Kinesis Data Streams, CloudWatch Logs, or custom agents, but not directly via HTTP.
- C
Use Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS) to queue the HTTP POST data and have an AWS Lambda function read from SQS and write to S3.
Why wrong: Using SQS with Lambda requires an HTTP endpoint to send the POST data to SQS, which would still need API Gateway or another mechanism. This adds complexity compared to directly using API Gateway + Lambda.
- D
Use Amazon API Gateway to create a REST API that receives the data and triggers an AWS Lambda function to store it in S3.
API Gateway provides a fully managed HTTP endpoint to receive the POST data, then triggers a Lambda function that writes to S3. This is serverless, cost-effective for low volumes, and operationally efficient.
DEA-C01 Data Ingestion and Transformation Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data ingestion and transformation. 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 company wants to ingest data from a SaaS application into Amazon S3. The SaaS application supports streaming data via HTTP POST requests. The data volume is approximately 100 MB per hour, and the company needs to store the raw data in S3 for archival and later analysis. Which approach is the most cost-effective and operationally efficient?
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
Use Amazon API Gateway to create a REST API that receives the data and triggers an AWS Lambda function to store it in S3.
Amazon API Gateway combined with AWS Lambda is the most appropriate and cost-effective approach for this use case. API Gateway provides a fully managed HTTP endpoint that can receive the HTTP POST requests from the SaaS application. The data is then passed to a Lambda function, which writes the raw data directly to Amazon S3. This serverless architecture eliminates the need to manage servers, scales automatically, and incurs cost only when data is processed. Option B is incorrect because Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose does not natively support HTTP endpoints as a source; it can ingest data from Kinesis Data Streams, AWS IoT, or custom agents, but not directly via HTTP POST.
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.
- ✗
Launch a t3.nano EC2 instance that runs a script to receive HTTP POST requests and write to S3.
Why it's wrong here
Launching a t3.nano EC2 instance requires managing the server, patching, and scaling. It is less operationally efficient than serverless options and may not be as cost-effective at low volumes due to fixed running costs.
- ✗
Use Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose with HTTP endpoint as the source, and configure S3 as the destination.
Why it's wrong here
Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose does not natively accept HTTP POST as a source. It integrates with services like Kinesis Data Streams, CloudWatch Logs, or custom agents, but not directly via HTTP.
- ✗
Use Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS) to queue the HTTP POST data and have an AWS Lambda function read from SQS and write to S3.
- ✓
Use Amazon API Gateway to create a REST API that receives the data and triggers an AWS Lambda function to store it in S3.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap is that candidates may incorrectly believe Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose can directly accept HTTP POST data. While Firehose is a great service for streaming data to S3, it does not support HTTP as a source. The correct serverless pattern for ingesting HTTP POST data is API Gateway + Lambda.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Kinesis Data Firehose's HTTP endpoint source uses a PUT API that accepts records up to 1 MB each, and it automatically buffers incoming data for up to 15 minutes or 128 MB before writing to S3, which reduces the number of S3 PUT operations and costs. Under the hood, Firehose can also transform data with Lambda if needed, but for raw archival, the direct path avoids unnecessary compute. In real-world scenarios, this setup is ideal for SaaS applications that emit logs or events via HTTP POSTs, as it provides near-real-time delivery with minimal operational overhead.
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
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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: Use Amazon API Gateway to create a REST API that receives the data and triggers an AWS Lambda function to store it in S3. — Amazon API Gateway combined with AWS Lambda is the most appropriate and cost-effective approach for this use case. API Gateway provides a fully managed HTTP endpoint that can receive the HTTP POST requests from the SaaS application. The data is then passed to a Lambda function, which writes the raw data directly to Amazon S3. This serverless architecture eliminates the need to manage servers, scales automatically, and incurs cost only when data is processed. Option B is incorrect because Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose does not natively support HTTP endpoints as a source; it can ingest data from Kinesis Data Streams, AWS IoT, or custom agents, but not directly via HTTP POST.
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.
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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