The answer is to configure a scheduled scaling action in Application Auto Scaling to increase WCU before the campaign. This is correct because DynamoDB Auto Scaling reacts to actual usage, so during a predictable spike like a marketing campaign, the lag in provisioning causes throttling until the new capacity takes effect. Scheduled scaling pre-emptively raises the provisioned WCU to match the expected traffic, eliminating the delay. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this tests your understanding of the difference between reactive and proactive capacity management—a common trap is assuming Auto Scaling alone handles all spikes, or choosing on-demand capacity for predictable events when scheduled scaling is more cost-effective. Remember the mnemonic: “Predictable spikes need pre-scaling, not just auto-scaling.”
DBS-C01 Management and Operations Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of management and operations. 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.
A company is using Amazon DynamoDB with provisioned capacity and Auto Scaling. They notice that during a marketing campaign, write traffic exceeded the provisioned WCU and caused throttling. Auto Scaling increased the WCU, but the throttling persisted for several minutes. Which additional measure can prevent throttling during such predictable spikes?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure a scheduled scaling action in Application Auto Scaling to increase WCU before the campaign.
Option A is correct because using Application Auto Scaling scheduled scaling allows pre-scaling capacity before the spike. Option B is wrong because DAX is for reads. Option C is wrong because on-demand may be costlier but solves unpredictability; for predictable spikes, scheduled scaling is better. Option D is wrong because increasing max capacity alone doesn't pre-scale.
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.
✗
Switch the table to on-demand capacity mode.
Why it's wrong here
On-demand handles spikes but may be more expensive; scheduled scaling is more cost-effective.
✗
Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) to cache write requests.
Why it's wrong here
DAX does not cache writes.
✗
Increase the maximum provisioned WCU in the Auto Scaling policy.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing max doesn't pre-scale; it only allows scaling up to that limit.
✓
Configure a scheduled scaling action in Application Auto Scaling to increase WCU before the campaign.
Why this is correct
Scheduled scaling pre-provisions capacity for known traffic patterns.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which DBS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Management and Operations — This question tests Management and Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure a scheduled scaling action in Application Auto Scaling to increase WCU before the campaign. — Option A is correct because using Application Auto Scaling scheduled scaling allows pre-scaling capacity before the spike. Option B is wrong because DAX is for reads. Option C is wrong because on-demand may be costlier but solves unpredictability; for predictable spikes, scheduled scaling is better. Option D is wrong because increasing max capacity alone doesn't pre-scale.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which DBS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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