The answer is to create an Aurora Replica and configure the reporting application to connect to the replica endpoint. This works because an Aurora Replica shares the same underlying storage volume as the primary instance but maintains its own compute resources, allowing you to offload reporting queries from primary Aurora MySQL without duplicating storage costs. By directing read-heavy, non-time-sensitive reporting traffic to the replica, you reduce CPU utilization on the primary while still meeting the five-minute return window. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of read scaling versus caching or vertical scaling—a common trap is choosing ElastiCache, but that is optimized for low-latency key-value lookups, not full table scans. Remember the memory tip: “Replicas for reads, primaries for writes—offload the heavy lifts to the clones.”
DBS-C01 Management and Operations Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of management and operations. 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.
An e-learning platform uses Amazon Aurora MySQL for its database. The application runs reporting queries that scan large portions of the database, causing high CPU utilization on the primary instance. The primary instance is a db.r5.2xlarge with 64 GB memory. The reporting queries are not time-sensitive but need to return results within 5 minutes. The operations team wants to reduce the impact on the primary instance without increasing costs significantly. Which action should be taken?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create an Aurora Replica and configure the reporting application to connect to the replica endpoint
Option D is correct because creating an Aurora Replica and directing reporting traffic to it offloads the primary instance. Option A is wrong because increasing the instance class is costly and may not be needed. Option B is wrong because ElastiCache is for caching, not for heavy reporting queries. Option C is wrong because the parameter group change would affect all queries, not just reporting.
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.
✗
Modify the DB cluster parameter group to enable result set caching
Why it's wrong here
Aurora MySQL does not have a result set caching parameter.
✓
Create an Aurora Replica and configure the reporting application to connect to the replica endpoint
Why this is correct
Replicas can handle read traffic, offloading the primary instance.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use Amazon ElastiCache to cache the reporting results
Why it's wrong here
Caching helps with repeated queries, but not with ad-hoc large scans.
✗
Increase the primary instance to db.r5.4xlarge
Why it's wrong here
This increases cost and does not isolate the reporting workload.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
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
How to think about this question
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.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 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.
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.
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: Create an Aurora Replica and configure the reporting application to connect to the replica endpoint — Option D is correct because creating an Aurora Replica and directing reporting traffic to it offloads the primary instance. Option A is wrong because increasing the instance class is costly and may not be needed. Option B is wrong because ElastiCache is for caching, not for heavy reporting queries. Option C is wrong because the parameter group change would affect all queries, not just reporting.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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