The answer is insufficient provisioned IOPS, as this is the most likely cause of high read latency on an RDS instance. When the DB instance lacks enough provisioned IOPS, read operations must wait for I/O resources, directly increasing the ReadLatency CloudWatch metric because the storage subsystem cannot keep up with the demand. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding that I/O throughput is the primary bottleneck for storage latency, distinct from CPU, network, or memory issues—a common trap is confusing high CPU or memory pressure with direct I/O latency. Remember that while memory pressure can cause swapping and indirectly affect latency, insufficient IOPS is the most direct and likely culprit for a spike in ReadLatency. Memory tip: think “IOPS first” when you see high read latency—I/O is the storage speed, not compute or network.
DBS-C01 Monitoring and Troubleshooting Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring and troubleshooting. 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 administrator notices that the CloudWatch metric 'ReadLatency' for an Amazon RDS for SQL Server instance has increased significantly. Which of the following 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The DB instance does not have enough provisioned IOPS.
High ReadLatency indicates that read operations are taking longer. This can be due to high I/O wait, which can be caused by insufficient I/O throughput (provisioned IOPS). Option A is correct: insufficient IOPS can cause latency. Option B is incorrect: high CPU may cause slower processing but not directly read latency. Option C is incorrect: network bandwidth does not directly affect storage latency. Option D is incorrect: memory pressure can cause swapping, which affects latency but not as directly as IOPS.
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.
✗
The DB instance is experiencing high CPU utilization.
Why it's wrong here
High CPU may affect query processing but not directly storage read latency.
✗
The DB instance is running out of memory.
Why it's wrong here
Memory pressure may cause swapping, which could increase latency, but insufficient IOPS is a more direct cause for increased read latency.
✗
The DB instance is using a burstable instance class that has exhausted its credits.
Why it's wrong here
Burstable instances affect CPU, not I/O latency directly.
✓
The DB instance does not have enough provisioned IOPS.
Why this is correct
Insufficient IOPS can cause read operations to queue, increasing latency.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
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 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 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.
Monitoring and Troubleshooting — This question tests Monitoring and Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The DB instance does not have enough provisioned IOPS. — High ReadLatency indicates that read operations are taking longer. This can be due to high I/O wait, which can be caused by insufficient I/O throughput (provisioned IOPS). Option A is correct: insufficient IOPS can cause latency. Option B is incorrect: high CPU may cause slower processing but not directly read latency. Option C is incorrect: network bandwidth does not directly affect storage latency. Option D is incorrect: memory pressure can cause swapping, which affects latency but not as directly as IOPS.
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: "most likely". 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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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