- A
Use S3 Event Notification to send to an SQS queue, then have Lambda poll the queue
SQS decouples and buffers events, allowing Lambda to process at a manageable rate.
- B
Use Amazon SNS to fan out the event to multiple Lambda functions
Why wrong: SNS does not provide buffering; Lambda still gets concurrent invocations that may timeout.
- C
Use AWS Step Functions to orchestrate multiple Lambda functions for parallel processing
Why wrong: Step Functions adds orchestration overhead and cost; not necessary for simple file processing.
- D
Increase the Lambda timeout to 15 minutes
Why wrong: Lambda has a max timeout of 15 minutes, but large files may still cause timeout and does not scale.
Question 1,381 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 uses Amazon S3 Event Notifications to trigger a Lambda function that processes incoming files. Recently, the Lambda function has been timing out for large files (>100 MB). The data engineer wants to improve the pipeline to handle large files reliably. Which solution is the MOST scalable and cost-effective?
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
✓
Use S3 Event Notification to send to an SQS queue, then have Lambda poll the queue
Option A is correct because decoupling S3 event notifications via an SQS queue allows Lambda to poll messages at its own pace, preventing timeouts from large files. The SQS queue acts as a buffer, enabling Lambda to process files asynchronously and scale based on the queue depth without being constrained by the synchronous S3 trigger timeout (typically 15 minutes for Lambda, but large files can still cause issues with concurrent execution limits). This approach is both scalable and cost-effective, as it avoids idle wait time and allows Lambda to process files in smaller chunks or with longer execution times as needed.
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.
- ✓
Use S3 Event Notification to send to an SQS queue, then have Lambda poll the queue
Why this is correct
SQS decouples and buffers events, allowing Lambda to process at a manageable rate.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use Amazon SNS to fan out the event to multiple Lambda functions
Why it's wrong here
SNS does not provide buffering; Lambda still gets concurrent invocations that may timeout.
- ✗
Use AWS Step Functions to orchestrate multiple Lambda functions for parallel processing
Why it's wrong here
Step Functions adds orchestration overhead and cost; not necessary for simple file processing.
- ✗
Increase the Lambda timeout to 15 minutes
Why it's wrong here
Lambda has a max timeout of 15 minutes, but large files may still cause timeout and does not scale.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume increasing Lambda timeout is the simplest fix, but the DEA-C01 exam tests understanding of decoupling patterns (SQS) to handle variable workloads and avoid synchronous invocation bottlenecks.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, S3 Event Notifications to SQS use the SQS queue as a reliable buffer, with Lambda polling via the SQS trigger (which uses long polling to reduce costs). The SQS queue can hold messages for up to 14 days, allowing Lambda to process large files without pressure, and the Lambda function can be configured with a higher timeout (up to 15 minutes) while the queue handles backpressure. In real-world scenarios, this pattern also enables retries with a dead-letter queue (DLQ) for failed messages, ensuring no data loss, which is critical for large file ingestion pipelines.
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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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: Use S3 Event Notification to send to an SQS queue, then have Lambda poll the queue — Option A is correct because decoupling S3 event notifications via an SQS queue allows Lambda to poll messages at its own pace, preventing timeouts from large files. The SQS queue acts as a buffer, enabling Lambda to process files asynchronously and scale based on the queue depth without being constrained by the synchronous S3 trigger timeout (typically 15 minutes for Lambda, but large files can still cause issues with concurrent execution limits). This approach is both scalable and cost-effective, as it avoids idle wait time and allows Lambda to process files in smaller chunks or with longer execution times as needed.
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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