Quick Answer
The answer is FreeStorageSpace and FreeStorageSpaceInPercent. These two CloudWatch metrics are the correct choices because Amazon RDS for SQL Server exposes both the absolute free storage in bytes and the relative free storage as a percentage of total allocated storage, allowing a database administrator to monitor capacity from two complementary angles. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish RDS-specific storage metrics from instance-level or engine-specific metrics; a common trap is confusing BinLogDiskUsage (which applies only to MySQL/MariaDB) or DatabaseConnections with storage monitoring. To remember, think of storage as a fuel gauge: FreeStorageSpace tells you how many gallons remain, while FreeStorageSpaceInPercent tells you what fraction of the tank is left—both are needed for a complete picture.
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring and troubleshooting. 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 database administrator needs to monitor the free storage space on an Amazon RDS for SQL Server instance. Which TWO CloudWatch metrics should be used? (Choose two.)
DatabaseConnections
Why wrong: This metric is for connections, not storage.
ReadLatency
Why wrong: This metric is for read latency, not storage.
BinLogDiskUsage
Why wrong: This metric is for MySQL, not SQL Server.
FreeStorageSpaceInPercent
Percentage of free storage space.
FreeStorageSpace
Direct metric for free space in bytes.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
FreeStorageSpaceInPercent
Option A (FreeStorageSpace) and Option D (FreeStorageSpaceInPercent) are correct. Option B is wrong because BinLogDiskUsage is for MySQL. Option C is wrong because DatabaseConnections is connections. Option E is wrong because ReadLatency is for read operations.
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.
DatabaseConnections
Why it's wrong here
This metric is for connections, not storage.
ReadLatency
Why it's wrong here
This metric is for read latency, not storage.
BinLogDiskUsage
Why it's wrong here
This metric is for MySQL, not SQL Server.
FreeStorageSpaceInPercent
Why this is correct
Percentage of free storage space.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
FreeStorageSpace
Why this is correct
Direct metric for free space in bytes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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
Monitoring and Troubleshooting — This question tests Monitoring and Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: FreeStorageSpaceInPercent — Option A (FreeStorageSpace) and Option D (FreeStorageSpaceInPercent) are correct. Option B is wrong because BinLogDiskUsage is for MySQL. Option C is wrong because DatabaseConnections is connections. Option E is wrong because ReadLatency is for read operations.
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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