- A
Multi-AZ failover occurred in the primary region.
Why wrong: Multi-AZ failover in the primary region would temporarily affect write availability but is unlikely to be the cause of consistently longer write times.
- B
The Global Database replication to secondary regions is causing synchronous commit latencies.
Why wrong: Aurora Global Database uses asynchronous replication, so synchronous commit latencies are not introduced. Replication does not directly impact primary write latency.
- C
The primary DB instance is under-provisioned.
An under-provisioned primary DB instance can lead to longer write times due to insufficient CPU, memory, or I/O capacity to handle the write workload.
- D
Read replicas in secondary regions are overloaded.
Why wrong: Read replicas in secondary regions handle read traffic only and do not affect write performance on the primary.
DBS-C01 Amazon Aurora Global Database Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of workload-specific database design. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: amazon Aurora Global Database. 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 runs a global application using Amazon Aurora Global Database. The primary region is us-east-1, and secondary regions are eu-west-1 and ap-southeast-1. The application reports that writes to the primary are taking longer than expected. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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 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
The primary DB instance is under-provisioned.
Amazon Aurora Global Database uses asynchronous replication from the primary region to secondary regions. Writes to the primary are committed locally and do not wait for replication to complete. Therefore, replication to secondary regions does not introduce synchronous commit latencies. The most likely cause of slower writes to the primary is an under-provisioned primary DB instance that cannot handle the write workload efficiently.
Key principle: Amazon Aurora Global Database
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Multi-AZ failover occurred in the primary region.
Why it's wrong here
Multi-AZ failover in the primary region would temporarily affect write availability but is unlikely to be the cause of consistently longer write times.
- ✗
The Global Database replication to secondary regions is causing synchronous commit latencies.
Why it's wrong here
Aurora Global Database uses asynchronous replication, so synchronous commit latencies are not introduced. Replication does not directly impact primary write latency.
- ✓
The primary DB instance is under-provisioned.
Why this is correct
An under-provisioned primary DB instance can lead to longer write times due to insufficient CPU, memory, or I/O capacity to handle the write workload.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "most likely", "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Amazon Aurora Global Database
- ✗
Read replicas in secondary regions are overloaded.
Why it's wrong here
Read replicas in secondary regions handle read traffic only and do not affect write performance on the primary.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often assume that Global Database replication causes synchronous overhead on the primary, but Aurora Global Database uses asynchronous replication, which does not add commit latency. The real performance bottleneck is typically the primary instance's capacity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Aurora Global Database uses a dedicated replication channel with a storage-level asynchronous replication mechanism that typically has sub-second lag. The primary region commits writes locally without waiting for secondary regions, so secondary region load or replication lag does not increase primary write latency. Under-provisioning the primary instance (e.g., insufficient CPU, memory, or IOPS) directly impacts write performance, especially under high write loads or with large transactions.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Amazon Aurora Global Database
- Write latency factors
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
Amazon Aurora Global Database
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. Amazon Aurora Global Database 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.
Review amazon Aurora Global Database, then practise related DBS-C01 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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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 — Amazon Aurora Global Database.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The primary DB instance is under-provisioned. — Amazon Aurora Global Database uses asynchronous replication from the primary region to secondary regions. Writes to the primary are committed locally and do not wait for replication to complete. Therefore, replication to secondary regions does not introduce synchronous commit latencies. The most likely cause of slower writes to the primary is an under-provisioned primary DB instance that cannot handle the write workload efficiently.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Review amazon Aurora Global Database, then practise related DBS-C01 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely", "primary". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Amazon Aurora Global Database
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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