- A
Route the CloudWatch Logs subscription to an Amazon SQS queue first
Why wrong: Adds latency and complexity, not directly reducing backlog.
- B
Increase the Lambda function memory allocation
More memory also increases CPU, speeding up processing.
- C
Increase the Lambda function reserved concurrency
Ensures enough concurrent executions.
- D
Change the Lambda function runtime from Python to Node.js
Why wrong: Minor difference; not a primary fix.
- E
Increase the Lambda function maximum concurrency (unreserved account concurrency)
Or increase unreserved concurrency if limit is hit.
Question 20 of 1,786
DEA-C01 Data Ingestion and Transformation Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data ingestion and transformation. 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 ingesting Apache logs from multiple web servers into AWS. The logs are sent via Amazon CloudWatch Logs to a subscription filter that delivers to a Lambda function. The Lambda function parses the logs and writes to Amazon S3. However, there is a significant backlog. Which THREE actions can reduce the backlog?
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
✓
Increase the Lambda function memory allocation
Option B is correct because increasing the Lambda function's memory allocation also increases its CPU allocation, allowing the function to process each log event faster. This reduces the per-invocation processing time, enabling the function to handle more log data per unit time and thus reduce the backlog.
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.
- ✗
Route the CloudWatch Logs subscription to an Amazon SQS queue first
Why it's wrong here
Adds latency and complexity, not directly reducing backlog.
- ✓
Increase the Lambda function memory allocation
Why this is correct
More memory also increases CPU, speeding up processing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Increase the Lambda function reserved concurrency
Why this is correct
Ensures enough concurrent executions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Change the Lambda function runtime from Python to Node.js
Why it's wrong here
Minor difference; not a primary fix.
- ✓
Increase the Lambda function maximum concurrency (unreserved account concurrency)
Why this is correct
Or increase unreserved concurrency if limit is hit.
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 may confuse 'reserved concurrency' with 'maximum concurrency' or think that adding an SQS queue always improves throughput, when in fact it can add latency and does not address the root cause of slow per-invocation processing.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Lambda allocates CPU proportionally to memory, so doubling memory roughly doubles CPU, reducing execution time for CPU-intensive parsing tasks. Reserved concurrency (Option C) ensures the function always has a minimum number of concurrent executions available, preventing throttling from other functions consuming the account concurrency pool. Unreserved account concurrency (Option E) is the default per-region limit; increasing it allows more concurrent Lambda invocations, but only if the function is not already hitting the account-level limit.
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.
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.
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Data Ingestion and Transformation — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DEA-C01 question test?
Data Ingestion and Transformation — This question tests Data Ingestion and Transformation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Increase the Lambda function memory allocation — Option B is correct because increasing the Lambda function's memory allocation also increases its CPU allocation, allowing the function to process each log event faster. This reduces the per-invocation processing time, enabling the function to handle more log data per unit time and thus reduce the backlog.
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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