Quick Answer
The answer is DatabaseMemoryUsagePercentage. This CloudWatch metric directly measures the percentage of the node’s allocated memory in use, and when it approaches 100%, the Redis engine is forced to evict keys or swap to disk, causing high latency. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your ability to isolate memory pressure as a root cause for performance degradation in a single-node ElastiCache for Redis cluster, where replication metrics like ReplicationLag are irrelevant. A common trap is to jump to CPUUtilization, but high CPU often results from memory thrashing rather than being the primary cause. For exam day, remember: when latency spikes on a single node, check memory first—think “Memory is the master, CPU is the messenger.”
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring and troubleshooting. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 developer notices that an Amazon ElastiCache for Redis cluster is experiencing high latency. The cluster uses a single node. Which CloudWatch metric should be reviewed first to determine if the issue is due to memory pressure?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "first"
Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
NetworkBytesIn
Why wrong: NetworkBytesIn measures network traffic, not memory.
ReplicationLag
Why wrong: ReplicationLag is for clusters with replicas, not single-node.
CPUUtilization
Why wrong: CPUUtilization does not directly indicate memory pressure.
DatabaseMemoryUsagePercentage
High memory usage can cause evictions and latency.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
DatabaseMemoryUsagePercentage
Option A is correct because the DatabaseMemoryUsagePercentage metric indicates the percentage of the node's memory used, which can cause latency if high. Option B is wrong because CPUUtilization indicates CPU load, not memory. Option C is wrong because NetworkBytesIn measures incoming network traffic. Option D is wrong because ReplicationLag only applies to clusters with replicas.
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.
NetworkBytesIn
Why it's wrong here
NetworkBytesIn measures network traffic, not memory.
ReplicationLag
Why it's wrong here
ReplicationLag is for clusters with replicas, not single-node.
CPUUtilization
Why it's wrong here
CPUUtilization does not directly indicate memory pressure.
DatabaseMemoryUsagePercentage
Why this is correct
High memory usage can cause evictions and latency.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
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 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
Monitoring and Troubleshooting — This question tests Monitoring and Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: DatabaseMemoryUsagePercentage — Option A is correct because the DatabaseMemoryUsagePercentage metric indicates the percentage of the node's memory used, which can cause latency if high. Option B is wrong because CPUUtilization indicates CPU load, not memory. Option C is wrong because NetworkBytesIn measures incoming network traffic. Option D is wrong because ReplicationLag only applies to clusters with replicas.
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.
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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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