DBS-C01 Workload-Specific Database Design Practice Question
A company is designing a database solution for a global user base that requires single-digit millisecond read latency for user profile data. The data is eventually consistent and can tolerate a few seconds of staleness. Which TWO AWS services or features should be combined to achieve this latency?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates assume Amazon ElastiCache or Aurora Global Database are required for single-digit millisecond latency, overlooking how DynamoDB Global Tables combined with CloudFront caching can achieve this without the complexity of managing a separate cache layer or dealing with cross-Region replication lag.
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
✓
Amazon DynamoDB Global Tables.
Amazon DynamoDB Global Tables provides a fully managed, multi-Region, multi-active database that replicates data across AWS Regions with sub-second latency, enabling single-digit millisecond reads for user profile data. Combined with Amazon CloudFront as a CDN, you can cache DynamoDB responses at edge locations, further reducing read latency for a global user base while tolerating eventual consistency and a few seconds of staleness.
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 ElastiCache for Redis with global datastore.
Why it's wrong here
ElastiCache Global Datastore provides cross-region replication but CloudFront is not used; Redis is not as globally distributed.
- ✓
Amazon DynamoDB Global Tables.
Why this is correct
Global Tables replicate data across regions, enabling low-latency local reads.
- ✓
Amazon CloudFront with a custom origin pointing to DynamoDB.
Why this is correct
CloudFront caches responses at edge locations, reducing latency for repeated reads.
- ✗
Amazon RDS for MySQL with cross-Region read replicas.
Why it's wrong here
Cross-region replicas have higher latency and may not achieve single-digit millisecond reads globally.
- ✗
Amazon Aurora Global Database.
Why it's wrong here
Aurora Global Database provides fast replication but typically ~1 second, not single-digit millisecond.
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This DBS-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 DBS-C01 exam.