The answer is to use the DynamoDB Standard-IA table class for the user profiles table. This is the most effective design change because Standard-IA offers lower storage costs for data that is accessed less frequently, making it ideal for user profile tables where the primary access pattern is occasional GetItem operations rather than constant reads or writes. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of DynamoDB table classes and cost optimization strategies, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly choose DAX or a GSI to improve performance, not realizing those options increase cost rather than reduce it. A key memory tip: think "IA" for "Infrequent Access" — if your data is not hot, Standard-IA saves you a lot.
DBS-C01 Workload-Specific Database Design Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of workload-specific database design. 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 uses Amazon DynamoDB to store user profiles. The access pattern is mostly GetItem by user_id. They want to reduce costs. Which design change is most effective?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use DynamoDB Standard-IA table class for the user profiles table.
Option D is correct because DynamoDB Standard-IA is cheaper for data that is accessed less frequently. Option A is wrong because DAX adds cost. Option B is wrong because increasing read capacity increases cost. Option C is wrong because adding a GSI adds cost.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Use DynamoDB Standard-IA table class for the user profiles table.
Why this is correct
Standard-IA lowers storage cost for infrequently accessed data.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Increase the read capacity units to reduce throttling.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing capacity increases cost.
✗
Add a Global Secondary Index on an additional attribute.
Why it's wrong here
Adding GSI increases storage and throughput costs.
✗
Add DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) for caching.
Why it's wrong here
DAX adds cost and is for performance, not cost reduction.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DBS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Workload-Specific Database Design — This question tests Workload-Specific Database Design — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use DynamoDB Standard-IA table class for the user profiles table. — Option D is correct because DynamoDB Standard-IA is cheaper for data that is accessed less frequently. Option A is wrong because DAX adds cost. Option B is wrong because increasing read capacity increases cost. Option C is wrong because adding a GSI adds cost.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DBS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Question Discussion
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