Quick Answer
The answer is ReadIOPS and WriteIOPS. These two CloudWatch metrics directly measure the actual input/output operations per second being performed by your Amazon Aurora MySQL DB cluster, which is the definitive indicator of whether the cluster has sufficient I/O capacity to handle its workload. While other metrics like CPUUtilization or DatabaseConnections are important for overall health, they do not reflect the storage subsystem’s ability to process read and write requests. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding that I/O capacity is about throughput, not compute or memory resources—a common trap is confusing high CPU with I/O bottlenecks. Remember the mnemonic: “I/O is all about the Ops—Read and Write.”
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring and troubleshooting. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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.
Which TWO CloudWatch metrics should be monitored to determine if an Amazon Aurora MySQL DB cluster has sufficient I/O capacity?
ReadIOPS
ReadIOPS shows the number of read I/O operations per second.
WriteIOPS
WriteIOPS shows the number of write I/O operations per second.
FreeableMemory
Why wrong: FreeableMemory is a memory metric.
CPUUtilization
Why wrong: CPUUtilization does not directly indicate I/O capacity.
DatabaseConnections
Why wrong: DatabaseConnections is not an I/O metric.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
ReadIOPS
Options B and D are correct. ReadIOPS and WriteIOPS show actual I/O operations. Option A is wrong because CPUUtilization is about CPU. Option C is wrong because DatabaseConnections is about connections. Option E is wrong because FreeableMemory is about memory.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
ReadIOPS
Why this is correct
ReadIOPS shows the number of read I/O operations per second.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
WriteIOPS
Why this is correct
WriteIOPS shows the number of write I/O operations per second.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
FreeableMemory
Why it's wrong here
FreeableMemory is a memory metric.
CPUUtilization
Why it's wrong here
CPUUtilization does not directly indicate I/O capacity.
DatabaseConnections
Why it's wrong here
DatabaseConnections is not an I/O metric.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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
Monitoring and Troubleshooting — This question tests Monitoring and Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: ReadIOPS — Options B and D are correct. ReadIOPS and WriteIOPS show actual I/O operations. Option A is wrong because CPUUtilization is about CPU. Option C is wrong because DatabaseConnections is about connections. Option E is wrong because FreeableMemory is about memory.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This DBS-C01 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DBS-C01 exam.
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