Quick Answer
Amazon S3 is the correct choice because it replaces HDFS as the durable, scalable object storage layer for Hadoop workloads while eliminating the operational overhead of managing a distributed filesystem. Unlike HDFS, which requires manual cluster maintenance and replication management, S3 provides 99.999999999% durability, native integration with AWS Glue and Athena for serverless analytics, and seamless compatibility with Amazon EMR for running MapReduce jobs without provisioning storage nodes. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of storage separation from compute—a key design principle for minimizing overhead. A common trap is confusing EMR (a compute service) with storage, or selecting EBS because it resembles HDFS’s block-based approach, but EBS cannot serve as a shared, distributed storage layer across multiple nodes. Remember the mnemonic: “S3 stores, EMR computes”—if the goal is to replace HDFS storage with zero ops, always pick S3.
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data store management. 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 needs to migrate an on-premises Apache Hadoop cluster to AWS. The cluster stores data in HDFS and runs MapReduce jobs. The company wants to minimize operational overhead and leverage serverless technologies where possible. Which AWS service should the data engineer use to replace HDFS storage?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Amazon EBS
Why wrong: EBS is block storage, not designed for distributed storage like HDFS.
Amazon EMR
Why wrong: EMR is a managed cluster platform for running big data frameworks, not a storage service.
Amazon S3
S3 is the recommended storage for Hadoop on AWS, replacing HDFS with durable object storage.
Amazon Redshift
Why wrong: Redshift is a data warehouse, not a replacement for HDFS.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Amazon S3
Amazon S3 is the recommended storage layer for Hadoop workloads on AWS, providing durable, scalable object storage with no operational overhead. Option A is wrong because EMR is a compute service, not storage. Option B is wrong because EBS is block storage attached to EC2, not suitable as a standalone distributed storage for Hadoop. Option D is wrong because Redshift is a data warehouse, not a replacement for HDFS.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Amazon EBS
Why it's wrong here
EBS is block storage, not designed for distributed storage like HDFS.
Amazon EMR
Why it's wrong here
EMR is a managed cluster platform for running big data frameworks, not a storage service.
Amazon S3
Why this is correct
S3 is the recommended storage for Hadoop on AWS, replacing HDFS with durable object storage.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Amazon Redshift
Why it's wrong here
Redshift is a data warehouse, not a replacement for HDFS.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
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 Store Management — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Data Store Management — This question tests Data Store Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Amazon S3 — Amazon S3 is the recommended storage layer for Hadoop workloads on AWS, providing durable, scalable object storage with no operational overhead. Option A is wrong because EMR is a compute service, not storage. Option B is wrong because EBS is block storage attached to EC2, not suitable as a standalone distributed storage for Hadoop. Option D is wrong because Redshift is a data warehouse, not a replacement for HDFS.
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.
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Same concept, more angles
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Variation 1. A data engineer is migrating an on-premises Apache Hive data warehouse to Amazon EMR. The warehouse contains partitioned tables stored in HDFS. The engineer wants to use Amazon S3 as the storage layer for the EMR cluster. What is the MOST important consideration for maintaining query performance on S3?
mediumWhy A: When using Amazon S3 as the storage layer for an EMR cluster, the most critical factor for query performance is minimizing S3 LIST requests. S3 LIST operations are significantly slower and more expensive than GET requests, and Hive/Spark queries on partitioned tables often issue LIST requests to discover partition locations. By organizing partitions with a common prefix (e.g., `year=2023/month=01/day=15/`) and using partition pruning, you reduce the number of LIST calls, directly improving query latency and reducing S3 API costs.
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This DEA-C01 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DEA-C01 exam.
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