The answer is the number of shards in the Kinesis stream and the batch size per invocation. These two factors directly determine the maximum number of concurrent Lambda executions because each shard processes records sequentially, with one batch at a time, meaning concurrency is capped at the number of shards. The batch size controls how many records are pulled per invocation, so smaller batches increase the frequency of invocations per shard, effectively raising concurrency within that shard’s limit. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how Lambda integrates with stream-based services, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly think DynamoDB table type or Lambda memory settings influence concurrency. Remember, concurrency for Kinesis is a function of shard count and batch size—not compute resources or database configuration. A useful memory tip: “Shards set the ceiling, batch size sets the speed.”
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 data engineer is building a data ingestion pipeline that uses AWS Lambda to process records from Amazon Kinesis Data Streams. The Lambda function writes the processed data to Amazon DynamoDB. Which TWO factors affect the maximum number of concurrent Lambda executions for this stream? (Choose TWO.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Batch size configured for the Lambda event source mapping
Correct options: A and C. The number of shards determines the maximum number of concurrent batches (one per shard). The batch size (records per invocation) also affects concurrency because smaller batches lead to more invocations. Option B is wrong because DynamoDB table type does not affect Lambda concurrency. Option D is wrong because Lambda memory is not directly related to concurrency. Option E is wrong because stream name does not affect concurrency.
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.
✗
DynamoDB table's read capacity units
Why it's wrong here
Read capacity affects DynamoDB performance, not Lambda concurrency.
✗
Lambda function's memory allocation
Why it's wrong here
Memory affects execution time but not concurrency limits.
✗
Kinesis stream name
Why it's wrong here
Stream name is an identifier, does not affect concurrency.
✓
Batch size configured for the Lambda event source mapping
Why this is correct
Batch size determines how many records are sent per invocation, affecting concurrency.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Number of shards in the Kinesis stream
Why this is correct
Each shard can have one concurrent Lambda invocation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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.
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.
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: Batch size configured for the Lambda event source mapping — Correct options: A and C. The number of shards determines the maximum number of concurrent batches (one per shard). The batch size (records per invocation) also affects concurrency because smaller batches lead to more invocations. Option B is wrong because DynamoDB table type does not affect Lambda concurrency. Option D is wrong because Lambda memory is not directly related to concurrency. Option E is wrong because stream name does not affect concurrency.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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