- A
Configure cross-Region read replicas.
Why wrong: Cross-Region read replicas are designed for disaster recovery and global distribution, not for reducing read latency in a single region. The network latency introduced makes this ineffective for immediate read performance improvement.
- B
Increase the instance class of the writer instance.
Why wrong: Increasing the writer instance class improves write throughput but does not directly address read latency issues.
- C
Add more reader instances to the cluster.
Adding more reader instances distributes the read load across more instances, reducing the load per instance and thus read latency.
- D
Enable Aurora Auto Scaling for the reader instances.
Enabling Aurora Auto Scaling automatically adds reader instances when read load increases, ensuring that read performance remains consistent.
- E
Implement Amazon ElastiCache for caching frequent queries.
Implementing Amazon ElastiCache for frequent queries offloads read requests from the database, significantly reducing read latency for cached data.
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-commerce application uses Amazon Aurora MySQL with a Multi-AZ DB cluster. During a recent load test, the application experienced increased read latency. The database cluster consists of one writer and two reader instances. Which THREE actions should be taken to improve read performance?
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
Add more reader instances to the cluster.
Adding more reader instances (Option C) directly reduces the read load per instance, improving read performance. Enabling Aurora Auto Scaling (Option D) automatically adjusts the number of reader instances based on demand, ensuring optimal performance. Implementing Amazon ElastiCache (Option E) caches frequent queries at the application layer, reducing the number of read requests hitting the database. Option A (configuring cross-Region read replicas) introduces network latency and is primarily used for global scaling or disaster recovery, not for reducing latency in a single-region application. Option B (increasing the writer instance class) improves write performance but does not directly affect read latency.
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.
- ✗
Configure cross-Region read replicas.
Why it's wrong here
Cross-Region read replicas are designed for disaster recovery and global distribution, not for reducing read latency in a single region. The network latency introduced makes this ineffective for immediate read performance improvement.
- ✗
Increase the instance class of the writer instance.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing the writer instance class improves write throughput but does not directly address read latency issues.
- ✓
Add more reader instances to the cluster.
Why this is correct
Adding more reader instances distributes the read load across more instances, reducing the load per instance and thus read latency.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Enable Aurora Auto Scaling for the reader instances.
Why this is correct
Enabling Aurora Auto Scaling automatically adds reader instances when read load increases, ensuring that read performance remains consistent.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Implement Amazon ElastiCache for caching frequent queries.
Why this is correct
Implementing Amazon ElastiCache for frequent queries offloads read requests from the database, significantly reducing read latency for cached data.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
Quick reference
OSI Model Reference
| Layer | Name | PDU | Key Protocols / Devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Application | Data | HTTP, HTTPS, DNS, SMTP, FTP, SSH |
| 6 | Presentation | Data | TLS / SSL, JPEG, ASCII encoding |
| 5 | Session | Data | NetBIOS, RPC, SIP |
| 4 | Transport | Segment / Datagram | TCP, UDP |
| 3 | Network | Packet | IP, ICMP, OSPF — Routers |
| 2 | Data Link | Frame | Ethernet, Wi-Fi, PPP — Switches, Bridges |
| 1 | Physical | Bits | Cables, NICs, Hubs, Repeaters |
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.
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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: Add more reader instances to the cluster. — Adding more reader instances (Option C) directly reduces the read load per instance, improving read performance. Enabling Aurora Auto Scaling (Option D) automatically adjusts the number of reader instances based on demand, ensuring optimal performance. Implementing Amazon ElastiCache (Option E) caches frequent queries at the application layer, reducing the number of read requests hitting the database. Option A (configuring cross-Region read replicas) introduces network latency and is primarily used for global scaling or disaster recovery, not for reducing latency in a single-region application. Option B (increasing the writer instance class) improves write performance but does not directly affect read latency.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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