- A
Enable DynamoDB adaptive capacity to automatically adjust partition throughput.
Why wrong: Adaptive capacity helps but may not fully resolve hot partitions.
- B
Switch to provisioned capacity mode with Auto Scaling.
Why wrong: On-demand already handles spikes; throttling suggests a design problem.
- C
Increase the DAX cluster node size to handle more write traffic.
Why wrong: DAX does not cache writes.
- D
Review the table's partition key design to avoid hot keys.
Hot keys cause throttling even with on-demand.
Question 926 of 1,730
DynamoDB Write Throttling Causes and Solutions
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 development team is using Amazon DynamoDB with on-demand capacity mode for a new application. During initial testing, they notice that write requests are occasionally throttled during traffic bursts. They have enabled DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) for read-heavy operations. What is the best recommendation to eliminate write throttling?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
✓
Review the table's partition key design to avoid hot keys.
Option D is correct because write throttling in DynamoDB on-demand mode indicates a hot partition, often due to uneven partition key distribution. Reviewing and improving partition key design can eliminate hot keys and distribute write traffic evenly, preventing throttling. Option A is incorrect: while adaptive capacity helps, it does not fully resolve throttling from skewed access patterns. Option B is incorrect: provisioned capacity with Auto Scaling adds complexity but does not address hot partitions; on-demand already scales automatically. Option C is incorrect: DAX is a read cache and does not affect write operations; increasing DAX node size only improves read performance.
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.
- ✗
Enable DynamoDB adaptive capacity to automatically adjust partition throughput.
Why it's wrong here
Adaptive capacity helps but may not fully resolve hot partitions.
- ✗
Switch to provisioned capacity mode with Auto Scaling.
Why it's wrong here
On-demand already handles spikes; throttling suggests a design problem.
- ✗
Increase the DAX cluster node size to handle more write traffic.
Why it's wrong here
DAX does not cache writes.
- ✓
Review the table's partition key design to avoid hot keys.
Why this is correct
Hot keys cause throttling even with on-demand.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
Visual reference
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?
Management and Operations — This question tests Management and Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Review the table's partition key design to avoid hot keys. — Option D is correct because write throttling in DynamoDB on-demand mode indicates a hot partition, often due to uneven partition key distribution. Reviewing and improving partition key design can eliminate hot keys and distribute write traffic evenly, preventing throttling. Option A is incorrect: while adaptive capacity helps, it does not fully resolve throttling from skewed access patterns. Option B is incorrect: provisioned capacity with Auto Scaling adds complexity but does not address hot partitions; on-demand already scales automatically. Option C is incorrect: DAX is a read cache and does not affect write operations; increasing DAX node size only improves read performance.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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