- A
Purchasing reserved instances for the cluster.
Why wrong: Cost savings, not performance optimization.
- B
Using columnar storage format.
Why wrong: Redshift uses columnar storage by default; no special action needed.
- C
Defining appropriate sort keys for the tables.
Improves query performance by reducing scans.
- D
Applying compression encoding to columns.
Reduces storage and improves I/O.
- E
Choosing the right distribution style (KEY, ALL, EVEN).
Affects data distribution across nodes.
Question 446 of 1,786
DEA-C01 Data Store Management Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data store management. 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 migrating a large Oracle data warehouse to Amazon Redshift. Which THREE considerations are important for optimizing the Redshift cluster?
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
✓
Defining appropriate sort keys for the tables.
Option C is correct because sort keys in Amazon Redshift determine the physical order of data on disk, which directly impacts the efficiency of range-restricted queries and compression. By defining appropriate sort keys (compound or interleaved), the query optimizer can use zone maps to skip large blocks of data that don't match the filter criteria, significantly reducing the number of blocks scanned and improving query performance.
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.
- ✗
Purchasing reserved instances for the cluster.
Why it's wrong here
Cost savings, not performance optimization.
- ✗
Using columnar storage format.
Why it's wrong here
Redshift uses columnar storage by default; no special action needed.
- ✓
Defining appropriate sort keys for the tables.
Why this is correct
Improves query performance by reducing scans.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Applying compression encoding to columns.
Why this is correct
Reduces storage and improves I/O.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Choosing the right distribution style (KEY, ALL, EVEN).
Why this is correct
Affects data distribution across nodes.
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-saving measures (reserved instances) or inherent architecture features (columnar storage) with active optimization choices, when in fact only sort keys, distribution styles, and compression encoding are configurable settings that directly impact query performance in Redshift.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Sort keys work with zone maps that store the minimum and maximum values for each 1 MB block of column data; when a query includes a filter on the sort key column, Redshift's query planner can skip entire blocks that fall outside the filter range, reducing I/O. For interleaved sort keys, Redshift uses a modified Z-order curve to maintain equal performance across multiple columns, but this comes with higher maintenance costs during COPY and VACUUM operations, making it best suited for tables with multiple equally important filter columns.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DEA-C01 question test?
Data Store Management — This question tests Data Store Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Defining appropriate sort keys for the tables. — Option C is correct because sort keys in Amazon Redshift determine the physical order of data on disk, which directly impacts the efficiency of range-restricted queries and compression. By defining appropriate sort keys (compound or interleaved), the query optimizer can use zone maps to skip large blocks of data that don't match the filter criteria, significantly reducing the number of blocks scanned and improving query performance.
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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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