- A
Move some tables to Amazon Redshift Spectrum.
Why wrong: Spectrum processes data in S3, not cluster CPU.
- B
Re-distribute the tables using a different distribution key.
Why wrong: Distribution tuning affects data movement, not CPU.
- C
Enable concurrency scaling.
Why wrong: Concurrency scaling adds clusters for read queries, not CPU-bound.
- D
Perform an elastic resize to add more nodes.
Elastic resize adds nodes and CPU capacity quickly.
Question 254 of 1,786
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 runs a production Amazon Redshift cluster. The data engineering team notices that queries are running slowly during peak hours. The cluster's CPU utilization is consistently above 80%. Which action should the engineer take to improve query performance?
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
✓
Perform an elastic resize to add more nodes.
Option D is correct because performing an elastic resize allows adding nodes to the Redshift cluster, increasing CPU capacity and resolving the CPU bottleneck. Option A is incorrect: moving tables to Redshift Spectrum offloads queries to S3 but does not reduce CPU usage on the cluster for existing queries. Option B is incorrect: re-distributing tables might improve data distribution but does not directly address high CPU utilization. Option C is incorrect: concurrency scaling helps with many concurrent queries by adding transient capacity, but it does not reduce CPU usage on the main cluster; it may even increase it.
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.
- ✗
Move some tables to Amazon Redshift Spectrum.
Why it's wrong here
Spectrum processes data in S3, not cluster CPU.
- ✗
Re-distribute the tables using a different distribution key.
Why it's wrong here
Distribution tuning affects data movement, not CPU.
- ✗
Enable concurrency scaling.
Why it's wrong here
Concurrency scaling adds clusters for read queries, not CPU-bound.
- ✓
Perform an elastic resize to add more nodes.
Why this is correct
Elastic resize adds nodes and CPU capacity quickly.
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 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.
Visual reference
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: Perform an elastic resize to add more nodes. — Option D is correct because performing an elastic resize allows adding nodes to the Redshift cluster, increasing CPU capacity and resolving the CPU bottleneck. Option A is incorrect: moving tables to Redshift Spectrum offloads queries to S3 but does not reduce CPU usage on the cluster for existing queries. Option B is incorrect: re-distributing tables might improve data distribution but does not directly address high CPU utilization. Option C is incorrect: concurrency scaling helps with many concurrent queries by adding transient capacity, but it does not reduce CPU usage on the main cluster; it may even increase it.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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