The answer is Amazon DynamoDB and Amazon DocumentDB. Both are fully managed, serverless JSON document stores, but they serve different use cases: DynamoDB is a key-value and document database that delivers single-digit millisecond performance at any scale using a serverless, pay-per-request capacity mode, while DocumentDB is a MongoDB-compatible document database that natively stores, indexes, and queries JSON documents without requiring infrastructure management. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this distinction tests your ability to match workload requirements to the correct service—DynamoDB for high-throughput, low-latency transactional workloads, and DocumentDB for MongoDB migration or content management applications. A common trap is assuming only one service qualifies, but the exam explicitly pairs them as the two serverless JSON document stores. Remember the mnemonic “DD for Docs”: DynamoDB and DocumentDB are the duo for serverless JSON.
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.
Which TWO data stores are considered fully managed, serverless, and suitable for storing JSON documents?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Amazon DocumentDB (with MongoDB compatibility)
Amazon DocumentDB (with MongoDB compatibility) is a fully managed, serverless document database that natively stores JSON documents. It supports MongoDB workloads, allowing you to store, query, and index JSON data without managing infrastructure, making it ideal for content management and catalog applications.
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.
✗
Amazon Redshift
Why it's wrong here
Redshift is a data warehouse, not a document store.
✗
Amazon ElastiCache for Redis
Why it's wrong here
ElastiCache is in-memory, not a document store.
✓
Amazon DocumentDB (with MongoDB compatibility)
Why this is correct
DocumentDB is a managed document database, supports JSON.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Amazon DynamoDB
Why this is correct
DynamoDB is serverless, fully managed, and supports JSON.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Amazon RDS for MySQL
Why it's wrong here
RDS is not serverless (Aurora Serverless exists but RDS for MySQL is provisioned).
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
AWS often tests the distinction between fully managed serverless services (DocumentDB, DynamoDB) and those requiring provisioning or cluster management (Redshift, ElastiCache, RDS), leading candidates to mistakenly select ElastiCache for Redis due to its JSON module support, ignoring its non-serverless nature and primary use as a cache.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Amazon DocumentDB uses a distributed storage architecture with 6 replicas across 3 Availability Zones, automatically replicating JSON documents for durability. It supports MongoDB wire protocol, enabling use of familiar drivers and tools, and its serverless option scales compute capacity based on workload demand, charging per second for consumed capacity. DynamoDB, the other correct answer, is a key-value and document database that stores JSON natively, with serverless scaling via on-demand capacity mode and single-digit millisecond latency at any scale.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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: Amazon DocumentDB (with MongoDB compatibility) — Amazon DocumentDB (with MongoDB compatibility) is a fully managed, serverless document database that natively stores JSON documents. It supports MongoDB workloads, allowing you to store, query, and index JSON data without managing infrastructure, making it ideal for content management and catalog applications.
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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Question Discussion
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