- A
Amazon Neptune
Why wrong: Neptune is a graph database, not suited for typical relational queries.
- B
Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL
RDS PostgreSQL offers full relational capabilities and managed scaling.
- C
Amazon DynamoDB with global secondary indexes
Why wrong: DynamoDB cannot perform JOINs; application-level joins would be complex and slow.
- D
Amazon ElastiCache for Redis
Why wrong: ElastiCache is a cache, not a durable database for primary data.
Question 672 of 1,730
DBS-C01 Workload-Specific Database Design Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of workload-specific database design. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
A startup is building a social media application that requires storing user profiles, posts, comments, and likes. The workload has variable traffic, with spikes after marketing campaigns. The team expects to run complex JOIN queries to generate a user's feed. Which AWS database service is MOST suitable for this relational workload?
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
✓
Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL
Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL is the most suitable choice because the workload requires complex JOIN queries on relational data (user profiles, posts, comments, likes). PostgreSQL provides full SQL support, ACID compliance, and robust indexing capabilities (e.g., B-tree, GiST, GIN) that efficiently handle multi-table joins. RDS also offers managed scaling, automated backups, and read replicas to accommodate traffic spikes after marketing campaigns.
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.
- ✗
Amazon Neptune
Why it's wrong here
Neptune is a graph database, not suited for typical relational queries.
- ✓
Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL
Why this is correct
RDS PostgreSQL offers full relational capabilities and managed scaling.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Amazon DynamoDB with global secondary indexes
Why it's wrong here
DynamoDB cannot perform JOINs; application-level joins would be complex and slow.
- ✗
Amazon ElastiCache for Redis
Why it's wrong here
ElastiCache is a cache, not a durable database for primary data.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose DynamoDB for its scalability and low latency, overlooking that complex JOINs are not supported in NoSQL databases, making RDS PostgreSQL the correct choice for relational workloads requiring SQL JOIN operations.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
PostgreSQL's query planner uses cost-based optimization to execute complex JOINs, leveraging indexes like B-tree for equality and range queries, and GiST for full-text search or geospatial data. Under the hood, PostgreSQL supports multi-version concurrency control (MVCC) to handle concurrent reads and writes without locking, which is critical during traffic spikes. In a real-world scenario, a startup might use RDS PostgreSQL with read replicas to offload feed-generation queries, ensuring low latency even under high load.
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.
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
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 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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL — Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL is the most suitable choice because the workload requires complex JOIN queries on relational data (user profiles, posts, comments, likes). PostgreSQL provides full SQL support, ACID compliance, and robust indexing capabilities (e.g., B-tree, GiST, GIN) that efficiently handle multi-table joins. RDS also offers managed scaling, automated backups, and read replicas to accommodate traffic spikes after marketing campaigns.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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