Quick Answer
The answer is Amazon Neptune, the most appropriate AWS database service for a social network graph database. Neptune is a fully managed graph database engine optimized for storing and traversing highly connected data, making it ideal for modeling the many-to-many relationships between users, posts, comments, and likes in a social network. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your ability to match workload patterns to the correct service—specifically recognizing when graph structures (nodes and edges) are required versus document or relational models. A common trap is choosing DynamoDB because it is NoSQL, but DynamoDB lacks native graph traversal capabilities; another is selecting RDS, which can model graphs with complex self-joins but becomes inefficient at scale. Memory tip: think “Neptune for networks”—if your data looks like a web of connections, Neptune is the right planet.
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of workload-specific database design. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 wants to run a graph database for a social network application. The data model involves users, posts, comments, and likes, with many-to-many relationships. Which AWS database service is most appropriate?
Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL
Why wrong: PostgreSQL can model graphs with extensions but is not optimized for graph queries.
Amazon Neptune
Neptune is purpose-built for graph databases and efficiently handles complex relationships.
Amazon DocumentDB
Why wrong: DocumentDB is a document database, not a graph database.
Amazon DynamoDB
Why wrong: DynamoDB is key-value, not optimized for graph traversals.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Amazon Neptune
Amazon Neptune is a fully managed graph database service optimized for highly connected data. DynamoDB is NoSQL but not graph. RDS is relational, which can model graphs but with complex queries. DocumentDB is document-based.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL
Why it's wrong here
PostgreSQL can model graphs with extensions but is not optimized for graph queries.
Amazon Neptune
Why this is correct
Neptune is purpose-built for graph databases and efficiently handles complex relationships.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Amazon DocumentDB
Why it's wrong here
DocumentDB is a document database, not a graph database.
Amazon DynamoDB
Why it's wrong here
DynamoDB is key-value, not optimized for graph traversals.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
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.
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FAQ
Workload-Specific Database Design — This question tests Workload-Specific Database Design — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Amazon Neptune — Amazon Neptune is a fully managed graph database service optimized for highly connected data. DynamoDB is NoSQL but not graph. RDS is relational, which can model graphs but with complex queries. DocumentDB is document-based.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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.
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