- A
Enable AWS CloudTrail to log database queries.
Why wrong: CloudTrail logs API calls, not SQL queries.
- B
Use Amazon RDS Enhanced Monitoring to view OS-level metrics.
Why wrong: Enhanced Monitoring does not show per-query CPU usage.
- C
Check RDS events in the AWS Management Console.
Why wrong: RDS events do not provide performance details.
- D
Use Amazon RDS Performance Insights to identify the top SQL queries by CPU usage.
Performance Insights provides query-level performance data.
Question 48 of 1,730
DBS-C01 Management and Operations Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of management and operations. 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 database specialist is troubleshooting a performance issue on an Amazon RDS for MySQL DB instance. The CPU utilization is consistently above 90%, but the IOPS and memory metrics are well within limits. Which tool should the specialist use to identify the root cause?
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
✓
Use Amazon RDS Performance Insights to identify the top SQL queries by CPU usage.
Amazon RDS Performance Insights provides a database performance tuning and monitoring feature that visualizes database load and helps identify the top SQL queries consuming the most CPU. Since the CPU is consistently above 90% while IOPS and memory are normal, Performance Insights can directly correlate high CPU usage to specific SQL statements, enabling the specialist to pinpoint the root cause efficiently.
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 AWS CloudTrail to log database queries.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail logs API calls, not SQL queries.
- ✗
Use Amazon RDS Enhanced Monitoring to view OS-level metrics.
Why it's wrong here
Enhanced Monitoring does not show per-query CPU usage.
- ✗
Check RDS events in the AWS Management Console.
Why it's wrong here
RDS events do not provide performance details.
- ✓
Use Amazon RDS Performance Insights to identify the top SQL queries by CPU usage.
Why this is correct
Performance Insights provides query-level performance data.
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 confuse Enhanced Monitoring (OS-level metrics) with Performance Insights (database-level query analysis), assuming OS metrics alone can identify the specific SQL causing high CPU, when in fact they only show the symptom, not the cause.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Enhanced Monitoring does not show per-query CPU usage.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Performance Insights uses a database load metric measured in 'Average Active Sessions' (AAS) and breaks down load by waits, SQL, hosts, or users. It collects data from the DB engine's internal performance schema (e.g., MySQL's performance_schema) to capture query execution statistics, enabling correlation of high CPU usage with specific SQL statements. In a real-world scenario, a missing index causing full table scans would manifest as high CPU due to excessive row processing, which Performance Insights would surface as a top SQL query with high 'CPU' wait event.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Management and Operations — study guide chapter
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Management and Operations practice questions
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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: Use Amazon RDS Performance Insights to identify the top SQL queries by CPU usage. — Amazon RDS Performance Insights provides a database performance tuning and monitoring feature that visualizes database load and helps identify the top SQL queries consuming the most CPU. Since the CPU is consistently above 90% while IOPS and memory are normal, Performance Insights can directly correlate high CPU usage to specific SQL statements, enabling the specialist to pinpoint the root cause efficiently.
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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