The answer is to enable auto scaling with a scheduled scaling action to increase RCU during the campaign. This is correct because DynamoDB auto scaling can dynamically adjust provisioned capacity based on actual load, and since the traffic is predictable and occurs for only two hours daily, scheduled scaling allows you to pre-emptively raise read capacity units (RCU) to handle the spike up to 2000 RCU, then scale back down to save costs. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of when to use scheduled scaling versus on-demand capacity—a common trap is choosing on-demand for predictable workloads, which is more expensive, or assuming DAX reduces RCU consumption (it does not, as reads still consume capacity if uncached). Remember the key distinction: for predictable traffic spikes, schedule your scaling; for unpredictable bursts, use on-demand. A helpful memory tip is “Predictable? Schedule it. Unpredictable? On-demand it.”
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 uses Amazon DynamoDB for a real-time analytics application. The table is provisioned with 1000 RCU and 500 WCU. Recently, the application experienced throttling on reads during a marketing campaign. The 'ConsumedReadCapacityUnits' metric shows spikes up to 2000 RCU. The 'ReadThrottleEvents' metric is high. The table has a global secondary index (GSI) that is also throttled. The application uses eventually consistent reads. The team wants to minimize costs while preventing throttling. The campaign traffic is predictable and occurs for 2 hours each day. What should the team do?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable auto scaling with a scheduled scaling action to increase RCU during the campaign.
Option C is correct because DynamoDB auto scaling can adjust capacity based on load, and because the traffic is predictable, scheduled scaling can be used to increase capacity during the campaign and reduce costs otherwise. Option A is wrong because on-demand is more expensive for predictable workloads. Option B is wrong because increasing RCU manually may lead to overprovisioning. Option D is wrong because DAX does not reduce read capacity consumption; it caches reads but still counts against RCU if not cached.
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.
✗
Increase the provisioned RCU to 2000 permanently.
Why it's wrong here
This would overprovision capacity for most of the day, increasing costs.
✗
Implement DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) to cache reads.
Why it's wrong here
DAX reduces read latency but does not reduce RCU consumption; it still consumes RCU for cache misses.
✓
Enable auto scaling with a scheduled scaling action to increase RCU during the campaign.
Why this is correct
Auto scaling adjusts capacity automatically, and scheduled scaling ensures capacity is ready for the campaign, minimizing cost.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Switch the table to on-demand capacity mode.
Why it's wrong here
On-demand is more expensive for predictable workloads because the cost per RCU/WCU is higher.
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: Enable auto scaling with a scheduled scaling action to increase RCU during the campaign. — Option C is correct because DynamoDB auto scaling can adjust capacity based on load, and because the traffic is predictable, scheduled scaling can be used to increase capacity during the campaign and reduce costs otherwise. Option A is wrong because on-demand is more expensive for predictable workloads. Option B is wrong because increasing RCU manually may lead to overprovisioning. Option D is wrong because DAX does not reduce read capacity consumption; it caches reads but still counts against RCU if not cached.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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