The most likely cause is that the Glue job and Redshift cluster are in different VPCs that are not peered or connected via a VPC Transit Gateway. Even when security groups allow inbound traffic, network routing between separate VPCs fails unless a VPC peering connection, Transit Gateway, or AWS PrivateLink explicitly bridges them. This scenario tests your understanding of how AWS Glue VPC connectivity to Redshift requires both security group rules and proper VPC routing—a common trap on the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam is assuming that security group permissions alone guarantee communication. Remember that a NAT gateway only provides outbound internet access, not cross-VPC routing, so the Glue job’s subnet route to a NAT gateway does not help reach Redshift in a different VPC. Memory tip: “Security groups filter, but routes deliver—if the VPCs aren’t linked, the packets sink.”
DEA-C01 Data Operations and Support Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data operations and support. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Your company runs a data pipeline that ingests data from AWS Database Migration Service (DMS) into Amazon S3 in Parquet format. An AWS Glue ETL job then transforms the data and loads it into an Amazon Redshift cluster. The Glue job uses a JDBC connection to Redshift. Recently, the Glue job started failing with a 'communication failure' error when writing to Redshift. The Redshift cluster is in a VPC with public accessibility disabled. The Glue job runs in a VPC with a subnet that has a route to a NAT gateway. The security group for Redshift allows inbound traffic from the Glue job's security group. The Glue job's IAM role has the necessary permissions. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The Glue job and Redshift cluster are in different VPCs that are not peered or connected via VPC Transit Gateway.
Option C is correct because even though the security group allows inbound traffic, the Glue job's VPC may not have a route to the Redshift cluster's VPC if they are in different VPCs. Option A is wrong because IAM permissions are not the issue. Option B is wrong because the Redshift cluster is in a VPC and not publicly accessible. Option D is wrong because the NATgateway is for outbound internet, not for connecting to Redshift within the same VPC.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The Glue job's IAM role does not have the redshift:DescribeClusters permission.
Why it's wrong here
The job uses a JDBC URL, not API calls; IAM permissions are for the Glue service role.
✗
The Redshift cluster's public accessibility is disabled, but the Glue job is trying to connect over the internet.
Why it's wrong here
The Glue job runs in a VPC and should use a private connection.
✓
The Glue job and Redshift cluster are in different VPCs that are not peered or connected via VPC Transit Gateway.
Why this is correct
Without VPC peering or transit gateway, the Glue job cannot reach the Redshift cluster.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
The NAT gateway is not configured to allow traffic to the Redshift cluster's subnet.
Why it's wrong here
NAT gateways are for internet traffic; Redshift is internal.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
→Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
→Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
→Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related DEA-C01 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Data Operations and Support — This question tests Data Operations and Support — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The Glue job and Redshift cluster are in different VPCs that are not peered or connected via VPC Transit Gateway. — Option C is correct because even though the security group allows inbound traffic, the Glue job's VPC may not have a route to the Redshift cluster's VPC if they are in different VPCs. Option A is wrong because IAM permissions are not the issue. Option B is wrong because the Redshift cluster is in a VPC and not publicly accessible. Option D is wrong because the NAT gateway is for outbound internet, not for connecting to Redshift within the same VPC.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related DEA-C01 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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