The correct diagnostic steps are checking ReplicationLatency in CloudWatch, reviewing CloudWatch Logs for replication errors, and examining DynamoDB Streams to verify change capture. These three actions directly address DynamoDB global tables consistency after failover by identifying where replication lag or failures occur—ReplicationLatency measures the delay between regions, CloudWatch Logs surface error events like throttled streams, and DynamoDB Streams confirm that item-level changes are being propagated. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of eventual consistency in global tables and the operational tools for diagnosing cross-region replication issues. A common trap is assuming that increasing write capacity or disabling global tables will fix consistency problems, but those are not diagnostic steps—they are reactive or disruptive. Remember the mnemonic “L-L-S” for Lag, Logs, and Streams to recall the three correct checks.
DBS-C01 Monitoring and Troubleshooting Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring and troubleshooting. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 company uses Amazon DynamoDB with global tables. During a regional outage, the application fails over to the secondary region. After recovery, the DBA notices that the data in the secondary region is not fully consistent with the primary. Which THREE steps should the DBA take to diagnose the issue? (Choose THREE.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Verify that DynamoDB Streams is enabled on the table.
Options A, C, and D are correct. Checking ReplicationLatency (A) identifies replication lag. Reviewing CloudWatch Logs for error logs (C) can reveal replication errors. Checking DynamoDB Streams (D) ensures changes are being captured. Option B is wrong because disabling global tables is not a diagnostic step. Option E is wrong because increasing write capacity does not fix consistency issues.
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.
✓
Verify that DynamoDB Streams is enabled on the table.
Why this is correct
Streams are required for global tables to replicate changes.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Disable and re-enable global tables to force resync.
Why it's wrong here
This is disruptive and not a diagnostic step.
✗
Increase the write capacity on the secondary table.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing capacity does not resolve data inconsistency.
✓
Review the DynamoDB Streams error logs in CloudWatch Logs.
Why this is correct
Error logs can indicate failures in replication.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Check the ReplicationLatency metric in CloudWatch.
Why this is correct
This metric shows the delay in replication between regions.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" 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 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 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: Verify that DynamoDB Streams is enabled on the table. — Options A, C, and D are correct. Checking ReplicationLatency (A) identifies replication lag. Reviewing CloudWatch Logs for error logs (C) can reveal replication errors. Checking DynamoDB Streams (D) ensures changes are being captured. Option B is wrong because disabling global tables is not a diagnostic step. Option E is wrong because increasing write capacity does not fix consistency issues.
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: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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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