- A
Use Amazon Kinesis Data Streams and a consumer to batch files before COPY
Why wrong: Kinesis Data Streams is for real-time, not optimal for small file aggregation.
- B
Use Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose to buffer and write larger files to S3, then use a scheduled COPY command
Firehose buffers small files into larger ones, reducing COPY frequency and cost.
- C
Increase the Lambda concurrency limit and memory
Why wrong: This increases cost and may still throttle.
- D
Use AWS Glue to merge files into larger Parquet files before loading
Why wrong: Glue adds overhead and cost; merging can be done more simply.
Question 104 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 engineer is designing a data pipeline that ingests millions of small JSON files (1-10 KB each) from an S3 bucket into Amazon Redshift. The current approach uses a Lambda function triggered by S3 events to call the Redshift COPY command for each file. This is causing high latency and throttling. Which alternative is MOST cost-effective and 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 Kinesis Data Firehose to buffer and write larger files to S3, then use a scheduled COPY command
Option B is correct because Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose can buffer the incoming small JSON files from S3 (via S3 event notifications) and write larger aggregated files to S3. A scheduled COPY command then efficiently loads these larger files into Amazon Redshift, reducing the number of COPY operations and avoiding Lambda throttling. This approach is cost-effective as Firehose charges only for data volume processed, and it eliminates the need for custom batching logic. Other options either process files individually (A, C) or incur higher costs with AWS Glue (D).
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 Streams and a consumer to batch files before COPY
Why it's wrong here
Kinesis Data Streams is for real-time, not optimal for small file aggregation.
- ✓
Use Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose to buffer and write larger files to S3, then use a scheduled COPY command
Why this is correct
Firehose buffers small files into larger ones, reducing COPY frequency and cost.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Increase the Lambda concurrency limit and memory
Why it's wrong here
This increases cost and may still throttle.
- ✗
Use AWS Glue to merge files into larger Parquet files before loading
Why it's wrong here
Glue adds overhead and cost; merging can be done more simply.
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 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 Operations and Support — This question tests Data Operations and Support — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose to buffer and write larger files to S3, then use a scheduled COPY command — Option B is correct because Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose can buffer the incoming small JSON files from S3 (via S3 event notifications) and write larger aggregated files to S3. A scheduled COPY command then efficiently loads these larger files into Amazon Redshift, reducing the number of COPY operations and avoiding Lambda throttling. This approach is cost-effective as Firehose charges only for data volume processed, and it eliminates the need for custom batching logic. Other options either process files individually (A, C) or incur higher costs with AWS Glue (D).
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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