Quick Answer
The correct answer is to lower the minimum read capacity to 200 RCUs because this aligns the auto scaling floor with the actual consumed read capacity, eliminating wasted provisioned capacity while preventing unnecessary scaling down. DynamoDB auto scaling adjusts capacity between a minimum and maximum range based on utilization, but if the minimum is set well below actual usage—like 100 RCUs when you consistently use 200—the service still provisions for the higher consumed level, leaving the lower minimum irrelevant and costing you for unused headroom. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of cost optimization through precise capacity tuning, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly adjust the maximum or disable auto scaling. The key insight is that the minimum should reflect your baseline load, not a safety buffer. Memory tip: “Match the floor to the flow”—set your minimum to your steady-state consumption to avoid paying for capacity you never use.
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.
A company is using Amazon DynamoDB with auto scaling enabled. The table's read capacity is set to a minimum of 100 and maximum of 1000 read capacity units (RCUs). The actual consumed read capacity is consistently at 200 RCUs. What should the database specialist do to optimize costs without impacting performance?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Increase the minimum read capacity to 500 RCUs.
Why wrong: Would increase costs unnecessarily.
Lower the minimum read capacity to 200 RCUs.
Matches the actual consumption, preventing over-provisioning.
Disable auto scaling and set the read capacity to 200 RCUs.
Why wrong: Disabling auto scaling removes elasticity for traffic variations.
Decrease the maximum read capacity to 500 RCUs.
Why wrong: May cause throttling during traffic spikes.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Lower the minimum read capacity to 200 RCUs.
Option A is correct because lowering the minimum to 200 RCUs ensures auto scaling does not scale below the actual usage, reducing provisioned capacity costs. Option B is wrong because decreasing the maximum could cause throttling during spikes. Option C is wrong because increasing the minimum would increase costs unnecessarily. Option D is wrong because disabling auto scaling would require manual management and may lead to over-provisioning.
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.
Increase the minimum read capacity to 500 RCUs.
Why it's wrong here
Would increase costs unnecessarily.
Lower the minimum read capacity to 200 RCUs.
Why this is correct
Matches the actual consumption, preventing over-provisioning.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Disable auto scaling and set the read capacity to 200 RCUs.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling auto scaling removes elasticity for traffic variations.
Decrease the maximum read capacity to 500 RCUs.
Why it's wrong here
May cause throttling during traffic spikes.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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.
Management and Operations — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Management and Operations — This question tests Management and Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Lower the minimum read capacity to 200 RCUs. — Option A is correct because lowering the minimum to 200 RCUs ensures auto scaling does not scale below the actual usage, reducing provisioned capacity costs. Option B is wrong because decreasing the maximum could cause throttling during spikes. Option C is wrong because increasing the minimum would increase costs unnecessarily. Option D is wrong because disabling auto scaling would require manual management and may lead to over-provisioning.
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.
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company is using Amazon DynamoDB with auto scaling enabled. The table's write capacity is set to a minimum of 50 and maximum of 500 write capacity units (WCUs). The actual consumed write capacity is consistently at 100 WCUs. What should the database specialist do to optimize costs without impacting performance?
easyWhy C: Option A is correct because lowering the minimum to 100 WCUs matches the actual usage, preventing over-provisioning. Option B is wrong because decreasing the maximum could cause throttling during spikes. Option C is wrong because increasing the minimum would increase costs. Option D is wrong because disabling auto scaling would require manual management.
Variation 2. A company is using Amazon DynamoDB with auto scaling enabled. The table's read capacity is set to a minimum of 100 and maximum of 1000 read capacity units (RCUs). The actual consumed read capacity is consistently at 200 RCUs. What should the database specialist do to optimize costs without impacting performance?
hardWhy A: Option A is correct because lowering the minimum to 200 RCUs ensures auto scaling does not scale below the actual usage, reducing provisioned capacity costs. Option B is wrong because decreasing the maximum could cause throttling during spikes. Option C is wrong because increasing the minimum would increase costs unnecessarily. Option D is wrong because disabling auto scaling would require manual management and may lead to over-provisioning.
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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