The answer is to enable Concurrency Scaling and set a usage limit, right-size the cluster based on workload analysis, and consider using reserved instances for steady-state workloads. Right-sizing is critical because it aligns provisioned compute and storage with actual demand, directly eliminating waste from over-provisioned nodes while avoiding performance bottlenecks from under-provisioning—a core principle of redshift cost optimization strategies. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this question tests your ability to balance performance with cost governance, often hiding traps like assuming more nodes always improve speed or forgetting that Concurrency Scaling credits can spike costs without a usage limit. A strong memory tip is “RCR”: Right-size, Concurrency limits, Reserved instances—three levers that prevent Redshift from burning budget on idle capacity or runaway scaling.
DEA-C01 Data Operations and Support Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data operations and support. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 is experiencing high costs from Amazon Redshift. The data engineer wants to optimize costs. Which THREE actions should the engineer take? (Choose THREE.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Right-size the cluster based on workload analysis.
Option B is correct because right-sizing the cluster based on workload analysis ensures that the provisioned resources (number and type of nodes) match the actual compute and storage demands. Over-provisioned clusters waste money on unused capacity, while under-provisioned clusters cause performance issues. Analyzing metrics like CPU utilization, disk usage, and query queue wait times helps identify the optimal node count and instance type, directly reducing costs.
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.
✗
Increase the frequency of automated snapshots.
Why it's wrong here
More snapshots increase S3 storage costs.
✓
Right-size the cluster based on workload analysis.
Why this is correct
Right-sizing ensures you only pay for needed resources.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Increase the number of nodes to improve performance.
Why it's wrong here
More nodes increase costs; focus on right-sizing.
✓
Purchase Reserved Instances for steady-state workloads.
Why this is correct
Reserved instances provide significant discounts over on-demand.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Enable Concurrency Scaling and set up a usage limit.
Why this is correct
Concurrency Scaling with pay-per-query avoids idle cluster costs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse cost optimization with performance improvement, leading them to select 'Increase the number of nodes' (Option C) thinking it will reduce costs by improving efficiency, when in fact it increases costs.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Right-sizing involves analyzing Amazon Redshift's system tables like STL_QUERY, STL_WLM_QUERY, and SVL_QUERY_REPORT to identify underutilized nodes or skewed data distribution. For example, if CPU utilization is consistently below 50% and disk usage is low, you can downsize to fewer or smaller nodes (e.g., from dc2.large to dc2.large with fewer nodes). Real-world scenarios often reveal that many clusters are over-provisioned for peak loads that occur only a few hours per day, making right-sizing a high-impact cost-saving measure.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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: Right-size the cluster based on workload analysis. — Option B is correct because right-sizing the cluster based on workload analysis ensures that the provisioned resources (number and type of nodes) match the actual compute and storage demands. Over-provisioned clusters waste money on unused capacity, while under-provisioned clusters cause performance issues. Analyzing metrics like CPU utilization, disk usage, and query queue wait times helps identify the optimal node count and instance type, directly reducing costs.
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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Question Discussion
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