- A
Increase the provisioned write capacity to a higher fixed value
Why wrong: This would be more expensive and may still not handle extreme bursts.
- B
Use DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) to cache writes
Why wrong: DAX is a read cache, does not help with write throughput.
- C
Implement an Amazon SQS queue to buffer writes
Why wrong: Buffering writes adds latency and complexity; not a direct solution for throughput.
- D
Enable DynamoDB Auto Scaling for the table
Auto Scaling adjusts capacity based on actual usage, handling bursts cost-effectively.
Question 1,464 of 1,730
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 for a session management store. The application writes and reads session data frequently. The team notices that write requests occasionally fail with ProvisionedThroughputExceededException. They want a cost-effective solution to handle these bursts. What should they do?
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
✓
Enable DynamoDB Auto Scaling for the table
DynamoDB Auto Scaling dynamically adjusts the provisioned write capacity based on actual traffic patterns, handling bursts cost-effectively by scaling up during spikes and down during lulls. This avoids the fixed-cost overhead of a higher provisioned value (Option A) and directly addresses the ProvisionedThroughputExceededException by ensuring sufficient capacity during bursts.
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.
- ✗
Increase the provisioned write capacity to a higher fixed value
Why it's wrong here
This would be more expensive and may still not handle extreme bursts.
- ✗
Use DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) to cache writes
Why it's wrong here
DAX is a read cache, does not help with write throughput.
- ✗
Implement an Amazon SQS queue to buffer writes
Why it's wrong here
Buffering writes adds latency and complexity; not a direct solution for throughput.
- ✓
Enable DynamoDB Auto Scaling for the table
Why this is correct
Auto Scaling adjusts capacity based on actual usage, handling bursts cost-effectively.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse DAX (a read cache) with a write buffer, or assume that a higher fixed capacity is the only way to handle bursts, ignoring the cost-efficiency requirement that points to Auto Scaling.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DynamoDB Auto Scaling uses the AWS Application Auto Scaling service to adjust provisioned throughput based on a target utilization (e.g., 70% of consumed capacity). It monitors CloudWatch metrics like ConsumedWriteCapacityUnits and scales by modifying the table's ProvisionedThroughput settings, with a cooldown period (default 60 seconds) to prevent rapid oscillations. In a session store, bursts often occur during login events or traffic spikes; Auto Scaling handles these by pre-emptively increasing capacity before exceptions occur, unlike fixed provisioning which would either waste money or fail under load.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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 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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Workload-Specific Database Design — This question tests Workload-Specific Database Design — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable DynamoDB Auto Scaling for the table — DynamoDB Auto Scaling dynamically adjusts the provisioned write capacity based on actual traffic patterns, handling bursts cost-effectively by scaling up during spikes and down during lulls. This avoids the fixed-cost overhead of a higher provisioned value (Option A) and directly addresses the ProvisionedThroughputExceededException by ensuring sufficient capacity during bursts.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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