- A
Apply sort keys on the skewed columns.
Why wrong: Sort keys improve query performance but do not fix data distribution skew.
- B
Apply compression on the skewed columns.
Why wrong: Compression reduces storage but does not affect data distribution.
- C
Re-evaluate the distribution style of the tables.
Choosing the right distribution style can evenly distribute data across nodes.
- D
Increase the number of nodes in the cluster.
Why wrong: Adding nodes may not fix skew if distribution is poor.
Question 677 of 1,730
DBS-C01 Management and Operations Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of management and operations. 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 company is running Amazon Redshift for data warehousing. The data warehouse is used for complex analytical queries. Recently, query performance has degraded due to data skew. Which steps should be taken to address this issue?
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
✓
Re-evaluate the distribution style of the tables.
Data skew in Amazon Redshift occurs when data is unevenly distributed across slices, causing some nodes to process more data than others and degrading query performance. Re-evaluating the distribution style (e.g., switching from AUTO or EVEN to KEY on a column with high cardinality and even distribution, or using ALL for small dimension tables) redistributes the data evenly, mitigating skew and improving parallel query execution.
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.
- ✗
Apply sort keys on the skewed columns.
Why it's wrong here
Sort keys improve query performance but do not fix data distribution skew.
- ✗
Apply compression on the skewed columns.
Why it's wrong here
Compression reduces storage but does not affect data distribution.
- ✓
Re-evaluate the distribution style of the tables.
Why this is correct
Choosing the right distribution style can evenly distribute data across nodes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Increase the number of nodes in the cluster.
Why it's wrong here
Adding nodes may not fix skew if distribution is poor.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse data skew (uneven distribution across slices) with data sorting or compression, leading them to incorrectly choose sort keys or compression as solutions, whereas only distribution style changes directly address the underlying imbalance.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Redshift distributes table rows across slices based on the distribution style: EVEN (round-robin), KEY (hash of distribution column), or ALL (full copy on every node). Data skew often arises when a KEY distribution column has low cardinality or uneven value frequency, causing hash collisions that overload specific slices. The STV_SLICES and SVV_DISKUSAGE system views can be queried to identify skew by comparing slice sizes, and ALTER TABLE can change distribution style, though it requires a full table rebuild (e.g., via CREATE TABLE AS or deep copy).
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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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Management and Operations — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Management and Operations — This question tests Management and Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Re-evaluate the distribution style of the tables. — Data skew in Amazon Redshift occurs when data is unevenly distributed across slices, causing some nodes to process more data than others and degrading query performance. Re-evaluating the distribution style (e.g., switching from AUTO or EVEN to KEY on a column with high cardinality and even distribution, or using ALL for small dimension tables) redistributes the data evenly, mitigating skew and improving parallel query execution.
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: Jul 4, 2026
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