Quick Answer
The answer is DynamoDB on-demand capacity mode. This is the correct choice because on-demand capacity instantly and automatically scales to accommodate any traffic spike without throttling, ensuring consistent single-digit millisecond latency by eliminating the need to manage read/write capacity limits. In contrast, provisioned capacity—even with auto scaling—has a defined maximum capacity ceiling, meaning sudden spikes can exceed that limit and cause throttling, which directly degrades latency. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of how capacity modes directly impact performance under unpredictable workloads; a common trap is assuming provisioned with auto scaling is sufficient, but the key distinction is that auto scaling reacts with a delay and cannot handle instantaneous bursts. For a memory tip, think of on-demand as “spike-proof” because it has no ceiling, while provisioned is “ceiling-bound” even with scaling.
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of deployment and migration. 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 wants to deploy a DynamoDB table that requires consistent single-digit millisecond latency regardless of traffic spikes. Which DynamoDB capacity mode should be selected?
DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) enabled.
Why wrong: DAX is a cache, not a capacity mode.
Provisioned capacity mode with auto scaling.
Why wrong: Auto scaling has a maximum capacity and may not keep up with sudden spikes.
On-demand capacity mode.
Automatically scales to handle any traffic level.
Provisioned capacity mode with fixed read/write capacity.
Why wrong: Can throttle during 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
On-demand capacity mode.
Option D is correct because on-demand mode automatically scales to handle traffic spikes while maintaining latency. Option A is wrong because provisioned mode can throttle if capacity is exceeded. Option B is wrong because provisioned with auto scaling still has a maximum capacity. Option C is wrong because global tables are for multi-region replication, not for handling spikes.
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.
DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) enabled.
Why it's wrong here
DAX is a cache, not a capacity mode.
Provisioned capacity mode with auto scaling.
Why it's wrong here
Auto scaling has a maximum capacity and may not keep up with sudden spikes.
On-demand capacity mode.
Why this is correct
Automatically scales to handle any traffic level.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Provisioned capacity mode with fixed read/write capacity.
Why it's wrong here
Can throttle during 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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
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
Deployment and Migration — This question tests Deployment and Migration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: On-demand capacity mode. — Option D is correct because on-demand mode automatically scales to handle traffic spikes while maintaining latency. Option A is wrong because provisioned mode can throttle if capacity is exceeded. Option B is wrong because provisioned with auto scaling still has a maximum capacity. Option C is wrong because global tables are for multi-region replication, not for handling spikes.
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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