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Question 1,072 of 1,786

Data Ingestion and Transformation →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Efficiently Load Large CSV Files into Redshift Using the COPY Command

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 engineering team needs to ingest CSV files from an S3 bucket into a Redshift cluster on a daily basis. The files are large (up to 100 GB each). Which approach is MOST cost-effective and efficient?

A
Use Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose to load data into Redshift.
Why wrong: Firehose is for streaming data, not batch loading of large files.
B
Use AWS Data Pipeline to copy data from S3 to Redshift.
Why wrong: Data Pipeline works but is more complex and costly; COPY command is simpler.
C
Use a Lambda function to read each file and insert rows individually.
Why wrong: Lambda has execution time limits (15 min) and is not efficient for large files.
D
Use the Redshift COPY command with an IAM role to load data directly from S3.
COPY command is optimized for bulk loading large datasets from S3 into Redshift.

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

✓

Use the Redshift COPY command with an IAM role to load data directly from S3.

Using the Redshift COPY command with an IAM role is the most cost-effective and efficient approach for loading large CSV files from S3 into Redshift on a daily basis. The COPY command is optimized for bulk data loading and can handle files up to 100 GB efficiently. Option A (Kinesis Data Firehose) is designed for streaming data, not batch loading of large files. Option B (AWS Data Pipeline) adds unnecessary cost and complexity for a simple scheduled copy job. Option C (Lambda function) has execution time limits (15 minutes) and memory constraints, making it unsuitable for processing 100 GB files atomically. Therefore, the COPY command is the best choice.

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.

✗
Use Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose to load data into Redshift.
Why it's wrong here
Firehose is for streaming data, not batch loading of large files.
✗
Use AWS Data Pipeline to copy data from S3 to Redshift.
Why it's wrong here
Data Pipeline works but is more complex and costly; COPY command is simpler.
✗
Use a Lambda function to read each file and insert rows individually.
Why it's wrong here
Lambda has execution time limits (15 min) and is not efficient for large files.
✓
Use the Redshift COPY command with an IAM role to load data directly from S3.
Why this is correct
COPY command is optimized for bulk loading large datasets from S3 into Redshift.
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.

Trap categories for this question

Command / output trap
Data Pipeline works but is more complex and costly; COPY command is simpler.

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 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

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 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 the Redshift COPY command with an IAM role to load data directly from S3. — Using the Redshift COPY command with an IAM role is the most cost-effective and efficient approach for loading large CSV files from S3 into Redshift on a daily basis. The COPY command is optimized for bulk data loading and can handle files up to 100 GB efficiently. Option A (Kinesis Data Firehose) is designed for streaming data, not batch loading of large files. Option B (AWS Data Pipeline) adds unnecessary cost and complexity for a simple scheduled copy job. Option C (Lambda function) has execution time limits (15 minutes) and memory constraints, making it unsuitable for processing 100 GB files atomically. Therefore, the COPY command is the best choice.

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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