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 of the following are benefits of using Amazon DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX)? (Choose TWO.)
Improves write throughput
Why wrong: DAX is a read cache, it does not improve write throughput.
Provides microsecond read latency
DAX caches reads in memory for low latency.
Offloads read traffic from the DynamoDB table
DAX handles read requests, reducing load on the table.
Provides data durability across Availability Zones
Why wrong: DAX is a cache, data is not durable.
Reduces storage costs
Why wrong: DAX does not affect storage costs.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Provides microsecond read latency
Amazon DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) is an in-memory cache that sits between your application and DynamoDB, providing microsecond response times for read-heavy workloads. It achieves this by caching frequently accessed data in memory, reducing the latency from single-digit milliseconds to microseconds for eventually consistent reads.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Improves write throughput
Why it's wrong here
DAX is a read cache, it does not improve write throughput.
Provides microsecond read latency
Why this is correct
DAX caches reads in memory for low latency.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Offloads read traffic from the DynamoDB table
Why this is correct
DAX handles read requests, reducing load on the table.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Provides data durability across Availability Zones
Why it's wrong here
DAX is a cache, data is not durable.
Reduces storage costs
Why it's wrong here
DAX does not affect storage costs.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse DAX's read acceleration with write performance improvements, or assume that a cache provides durability guarantees similar to the underlying database.
Detailed technical explanation
DAX uses a write-through caching strategy where writes are sent to DynamoDB first, then the cache is updated, but the cache itself is ephemeral and not durable. In a real-world scenario, a gaming leaderboard application using DAX can achieve sub-millisecond reads for top scores, while the underlying DynamoDB table handles the write operations and provides full ACID compliance for score updates.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
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FAQ
Data Store Management — This question tests Data Store Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Provides microsecond read latency — Amazon DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) is an in-memory cache that sits between your application and DynamoDB, providing microsecond response times for read-heavy workloads. It achieves this by caching frequently accessed data in memory, reducing the latency from single-digit milliseconds to microseconds for eventually consistent reads.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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.
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