The answer is to upgrade to a larger node type with more CPU and memory. This is correct because when CloudWatch shows that WriteThroughput is low but the EBS volumes are not hitting their provisioned IOPS, the bottleneck is not storage I/O but rather the node’s processing capacity—CPU and memory are limiting how fast Redshift can execute write operations, such as data ingestion, sorting, and compression. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between I/O-bound and compute-bound performance issues; a common trap is to assume low throughput always means more IOPS are needed, but the metric tells you the volumes are underutilized. Remember that sort keys boost read performance, not write, and increasing concurrency can actually hurt throughput if resources are already strained. A useful memory tip is “IOPS low? Think CPU—don’t chase the wrong bottleneck.”
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 data engineer is monitoring an Amazon Redshift cluster using Amazon CloudWatch. The engineer notices that the 'WriteThroughput' metric is consistently below the provisioned IOPS for the cluster's EBS volumes. The query performance is slower than expected. Which action is MOST likely to improve write performance?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Upgrade to a larger node type with more CPU and memory.
Option D is correct because if write throughput is low but IOPS are not saturated, the bottleneck may be CPU or memory; increasing the node size (DC2 or RA3) provides more CPU and memory. Option A is wrong because increasing IOPS when not saturated won't help. Option B is wrong because concurrency may cause blocking but not necessarily low throughput. Option C is wrong because sort keys improve read performance, not write.
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.
✗
Reduce the number of concurrent queries to the database.
Why it's wrong here
May help if concurrency is high, but not directly related to low write throughput.
✓
Upgrade to a larger node type with more CPU and memory.
Why this is correct
Larger nodes provide more processing power, improving write throughput.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Add sort keys to the tables to improve data distribution.
Why it's wrong here
Sort keys improve query performance, not write throughput.
✗
Increase the provisioned IOPS on the EBS volumes.
Why it's wrong here
IOPS are not saturated; increasing them will not improve performance.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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.
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: Upgrade to a larger node type with more CPU and memory. — Option D is correct because if write throughput is low but IOPS are not saturated, the bottleneck may be CPU or memory; increasing the node size (DC2 or RA3) provides more CPU and memory. Option A is wrong because increasing IOPS when not saturated won't help. Option B is wrong because concurrency may cause blocking but not necessarily low throughput. Option C is wrong because sort keys improve read performance, not write.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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.
Question Discussion
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