DEA-C01 Data Store Management Practice Question
Which THREE factors should a data engineer consider when choosing between Amazon S3 and Amazon DynamoDB for storing time-series data? (Choose three.)
⚠ Common exam trap
The DEA-C01 exam often tests the misconception that cost per GB is a primary factor for choosing between S3 and DynamoDB for time-series data, when in reality query complexity, latency, and access patterns are far more decisive due to the fundamentally different data models (key-value vs. object storage).
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
✓
Required query complexity (simple key lookups vs. range scans)
Amazon S3 supports range scans via its ListObjectsV2 API with prefix and delimiter parameters, but it is not optimized for complex queries like filtering on non-key attributes or aggregations. DynamoDB, on the other hand, excels at simple key lookups and range scans on its sort key, but lacks native support for complex query patterns such as multi-attribute filtering or joins. Therefore, the required query complexity directly influences the choice: S3 is better for simple prefix-based scans, while DynamoDB is better for key-value lookups and sort-key range queries.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Required query complexity (simple key lookups vs. range scans)
Why this is correct
DynamoDB excels at key lookups; S3 is better for scans.
- ✓
Application latency requirements
Why this is correct
DynamoDB offers low-latency; S3 has higher latency.
- ✗
Cost per GB of storage
Why it's wrong here
Cost is important but not the primary factor for time-series.
- ✓
Data access patterns (random vs. sequential)
Why this is correct
Time-series often involve sequential scans or point queries.
- ✗
Total data volume
Why it's wrong here
Both services can handle large volumes.
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 |
Go deeper
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