DBS-C01 Workload-Specific Database Design Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of workload-specific database design. 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 media company stores video metadata in Amazon DynamoDB. The table has partition key 'video_id' and sort key 'upload_date'. The application frequently queries videos by 'category' and 'status'. The access pattern changes over time. Which design minimizes cost and maximizes query flexibility?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create multiple GSIs with different partition keys to support various query patterns
Option D is correct because DynamoDB supports multiple GSIs per table, allowing different access patterns. Option A (single GSI) is less flexible. Option B (stream to Elasticsearch) adds complexity and cost. Option C (single table design) may not fit all patterns.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Create a single GSI with partition key 'category' and sort key 'status'
Why it's wrong here
A single GSI can't cover all future query patterns.
✓
Create multiple GSIs with different partition keys to support various query patterns
Why this is correct
Multiple GSIs provide query flexibility at the cost of additional storage, but DynamoDB allows up to 20 GSIs.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Use DynamoDB Streams to replicate data to Amazon Elasticsearch Service
Why it's wrong here
Adds operational complexity and cost; may be overkill for simple queries.
✗
Redesign to a single DynamoDB table that aggregates all attributes into the partition key
Why it's wrong here
Single table design may not support all queries efficiently.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DBS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Workload-Specific Database Design — This question tests Workload-Specific Database Design — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create multiple GSIs with different partition keys to support various query patterns — Option D is correct because DynamoDB supports multiple GSIs per table, allowing different access patterns. Option A (single GSI) is less flexible. Option B (stream to Elasticsearch) adds complexity and cost. Option C (single table design) may not fit all patterns.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DBS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Question Discussion
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