DBS-C01 Management and Operations Practice Question
A company is using Amazon DynamoDB with provisioned capacity. The table's read capacity is consistently underutilized, but the write capacity is frequently maxed out. The team wants to optimize costs while maintaining performance. Which TWO actions should be taken?
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
✓
Use DynamoDB Auto Scaling for write capacity.
The correct answers are C and E. DynamoDB Auto Scaling for write capacity (C) dynamically adjusts the provisioned write capacity based on traffic, preventing throttling during spikes without over-provisioning. Reducing provisioned read capacity (E) to match actual usage saves costs because reads are underutilized. Option A (on-demand) can be more expensive for predictable workloads, and Auto Scaling is often more cost-effective. Option B (DAX) offloads reads, not writes, so it does not address the write bottleneck. Option D (increasing provisioned writes) would raise costs without dynamic scaling, as capacity would remain high even when not needed.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Switch the table to on-demand capacity mode.
Why it's wrong here
On-demand may be more expensive for predictable workloads; auto scaling is more cost-effective.
- ✗
Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) to offload reads.
Why it's wrong here
DAX does not reduce write costs; it only caches reads.
- ✓
Use DynamoDB Auto Scaling for write capacity.
Why this is correct
Auto Scaling adjusts write capacity to match demand, reducing throttling and cost.
- ✗
Increase the provisioned write capacity to handle spikes.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing write capacity would increase costs, and spikes can be handled by auto scaling.
- ✓
Reduce the provisioned read capacity to match actual usage.
Why this is correct
Since reads are underutilized, lowering read capacity saves costs without impacting performance.
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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.