- A
Amazon DynamoDB
Why wrong: DynamoDB latency is in single-digit milliseconds, not sub-millisecond.
- B
Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL
Why wrong: RDS has higher latency and is not ephemeral.
- C
Amazon S3
Why wrong: S3 is object storage with higher latency, not suitable for real-time session data.
- D
Amazon ElastiCache for Redis
ElastiCache Redis provides sub-millisecond latency and can be configured with no persistence.
Question 248 of 1,730
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 gaming company needs a database to store player session data that is ephemeral and requires sub-millisecond latency. The data can be lost on failure without impact. Which service is best?
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 ElastiCache for Redis
Amazon ElastiCache for Redis is the best choice because it provides an in-memory data store with sub-millisecond latency, ideal for ephemeral player session data that can be lost on failure. Redis supports data structures like strings and hashes with TTL (time-to-live) expiration, perfectly matching the transient, low-latency requirement without needing durability.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 it's wrong here
DynamoDB latency is in single-digit milliseconds, not sub-millisecond.
- ✗
Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL
Why it's wrong here
RDS has higher latency and is not ephemeral.
- ✗
Amazon S3
Why it's wrong here
S3 is object storage with higher latency, not suitable for real-time session data.
- ✓
Amazon ElastiCache for Redis
Why this is correct
ElastiCache Redis provides sub-millisecond latency and can be configured with no persistence.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may choose DynamoDB (Option A) because it is a common choice for session data, but the question's explicit requirement for sub-millisecond latency and tolerance for data loss points to an in-memory cache like Redis, not a durable database.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, ElastiCache for Redis stores all data in RAM, enabling sub-millisecond read/write operations via the Redis protocol (e.g., SET/GET commands). The TTL feature automatically evicts expired session keys, and the in-memory nature means data is lost on node failure unless persistence (RDB/AOF) is enabled—but the question explicitly allows data loss, making this ideal. In a real-world gaming scenario, Redis can handle millions of session updates per second with consistent single-digit microsecond latency, far exceeding DynamoDB's typical 1-10 ms p99 latency.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Workload-Specific Database Design — This question tests Workload-Specific Database Design — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Amazon ElastiCache for Redis — Amazon ElastiCache for Redis is the best choice because it provides an in-memory data store with sub-millisecond latency, ideal for ephemeral player session data that can be lost on failure. Redis supports data structures like strings and hashes with TTL (time-to-live) expiration, perfectly matching the transient, low-latency requirement without needing durability.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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