DBS-C01 Workload-Specific Database Design Practice Question
A gaming company wants to store player profiles and game state. The data is accessed via a REST API and must be highly available with single-digit millisecond latency. The schema is simple and may evolve over time. Which database should they use?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates choose Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL because they assume relational databases are required for structured data, overlooking DynamoDB's schema-less design and its ability to handle evolving schemas with single-digit millisecond latency at scale.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Amazon DynamoDB
Amazon DynamoDB is the correct choice because it is a fully managed NoSQL key-value and document database that delivers single-digit millisecond latency at any scale, making it ideal for high-availability gaming workloads. Its schema-less design allows the player profile and game state schema to evolve over time without downtime or complex migrations, and it integrates seamlessly with REST APIs via AWS SDKs or API Gateway.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Amazon DynamoDB
Why this is correct
DynamoDB provides low latency, high availability, and schema flexibility.
- ✗
Amazon S3
Why it's wrong here
S3 is object storage, not ideal for frequent small writes and sub-millisecond latency.
- ✗
Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL
Why it's wrong here
Relational overhead and scaling complexity for simple key-value data.
- ✗
Amazon Redshift
Why it's wrong here
Redshift is for OLAP, not OLTP.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on DBS-C01
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A gaming company wants to store player profiles and game state data with low-latency access for millions of concurrent users. The data is accessed via a REST API and requires high scalability with minimal operational overhead. Which database service is MOST suitable?
easy- A.Amazon RDS for MySQL with read replicas
- ✓ B.Amazon DynamoDB
- C.Amazon Neptune
- D.Amazon ElastiCache for Redis
Why B: Amazon DynamoDB is the most suitable choice because it is a fully managed NoSQL key-value and document database that delivers single-digit millisecond latency at any scale, making it ideal for storing player profiles and game state data for millions of concurrent users. It supports high throughput with auto-scaling, integrates seamlessly with REST APIs via AWS SDKs, and requires minimal operational overhead due to its serverless nature.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.