- A
ThrottledRequests
ThrottledRequests is a CloudWatch metric that directly counts the number of requests that were throttled due to exceeding provisioned throughput. Monitoring this metric helps identify when throttling is occurring.
- B
SuccessfulRequestLatency
Why wrong: SuccessfulRequestLatency measures the time taken for successful requests, not throttling.
- C
UserErrors
Why wrong: UserErrors tracks client-side errors like invalid parameters or authorization failures, not capacity-related throttling.
- D
ConsumedWriteCapacityUnits
Why wrong: ConsumedWriteCapacityUnits shows the amount of write capacity used. While high consumption relative to provisioned capacity can cause throttling, it is not a direct measure of throttled requests; ThrottledRequests is more direct for troubleshooting the issue.
DynamoDB Throttling: Key CloudWatch Metric to Monitor
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 developer is troubleshooting an application that uses Amazon DynamoDB. The application is experiencing throttled requests (ProvisionedThroughputExceededException). Which CloudWatch metric should be monitored to troubleshoot this issue?
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
ThrottledRequests
The correct answer is A. ThrottledRequests is a CloudWatch metric that directly counts the number of requests that were throttled due to exceeding provisioned throughput. For troubleshooting throttling issues, this metric provides immediate visibility into when throttling occurs. ConsumedWriteCapacityUnits (option D) shows capacity usage but does not directly indicate throttling; high consumption may lead to throttling but is not a direct measure. SuccessfulRequestLatency (option B) measures latency, not throttling, and UserErrors (option C) tracks client-side errors like invalid parameters, not capacity-related throttling.
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.
- ✓
ThrottledRequests
Why this is correct
ThrottledRequests is a CloudWatch metric that directly counts the number of requests that were throttled due to exceeding provisioned throughput. Monitoring this metric helps identify when throttling is occurring.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
SuccessfulRequestLatency
Why it's wrong here
SuccessfulRequestLatency measures the time taken for successful requests, not throttling.
- ✗
UserErrors
Why it's wrong here
UserErrors tracks client-side errors like invalid parameters or authorization failures, not capacity-related throttling.
- ✗
ConsumedWriteCapacityUnits
Why it's wrong here
ConsumedWriteCapacityUnits shows the amount of write capacity used. While high consumption relative to provisioned capacity can cause throttling, it is not a direct measure of throttled requests; ThrottledRequests is more direct for troubleshooting the issue.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
ConsumedWriteCapacityUnits shows the amount of write capacity used. While high consumption relative to provisioned capacity can cause throttling, it is not a direct measure of throttled requests; ThrottledRequests is more direct for troubleshooting the issue.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
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: ThrottledRequests — The correct answer is A. ThrottledRequests is a CloudWatch metric that directly counts the number of requests that were throttled due to exceeding provisioned throughput. For troubleshooting throttling issues, this metric provides immediate visibility into when throttling occurs. ConsumedWriteCapacityUnits (option D) shows capacity usage but does not directly indicate throttling; high consumption may lead to throttling but is not a direct measure. SuccessfulRequestLatency (option B) measures latency, not throttling, and UserErrors (option C) tracks client-side errors like invalid parameters, not capacity-related throttling.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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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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