- A
Migrate to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL and use Aurora Auto Scaling to add reader nodes as needed.
Why wrong: Auto Scaling adds read replicas but does not isolate tenants; all tenants still share the same writer instance.
- B
Create separate RDS instances for each tenant and use RDS Proxy to pool connections per tenant. Modify the application to select the appropriate database instance based on tenant ID.
This provides full isolation and predictable performance. RDS Proxy reduces connection overhead. Application changes are limited to connection routing logic.
- C
Implement Amazon RDS Proxy in front of the existing RDS instance to manage connections and reduce contention.
Why wrong: RDS Proxy helps with connection management but does not isolate tenant workloads; resource contention remains.
- D
Migrate the application to use Amazon DynamoDB with tenant ID as the partition key, using global tables for scalability.
Why wrong: This requires significant application changes (replacing ORM with DynamoDB API), contradicting the goal to minimize changes.
DBS-C01 Workload-Specific Database Design Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of workload-specific database design. 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 company runs a multi-tenant SaaS platform on AWS. Each tenant has their own database schema within a shared PostgreSQL database on Amazon RDS. The platform has grown to thousands of tenants, and the single RDS instance is experiencing performance degradation due to resource contention. Queries from one tenant can impact others. The company needs a solution that isolates tenants, provides predictable performance, and allows easy scaling. They also want to minimize application changes. The application uses an ORM that dynamically constructs SQL queries based on the tenant ID. Which solution is BEST?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
Create separate RDS instances for each tenant and use RDS Proxy to pool connections per tenant. Modify the application to select the appropriate database instance based on tenant ID.
Option B is the best solution because it provides full tenant isolation by assigning each tenant a separate RDS instance, eliminating resource contention and ensuring predictable performance. RDS Proxy efficiently manages connection pooling for each instance, reducing overhead. The application change is minimal: the ORM can be configured to dynamically select the correct database instance based on the tenant ID, preserving the existing SQL-based logic. In contrast, Option A (Aurora Auto Scaling) still shares a single database, offering no isolation. Option C (RDS Proxy on the existing instance) also fails to isolate tenants. Option D (DynamoDB) would require a complete rewrite of the data layer, violating the requirement to minimize application changes.
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.
- ✗
Migrate to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL and use Aurora Auto Scaling to add reader nodes as needed.
Why it's wrong here
Auto Scaling adds read replicas but does not isolate tenants; all tenants still share the same writer instance.
- ✓
Create separate RDS instances for each tenant and use RDS Proxy to pool connections per tenant. Modify the application to select the appropriate database instance based on tenant ID.
Why this is correct
This provides full isolation and predictable performance. RDS Proxy reduces connection overhead. Application changes are limited to connection routing logic.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Implement Amazon RDS Proxy in front of the existing RDS instance to manage connections and reduce contention.
Why it's wrong here
RDS Proxy helps with connection management but does not isolate tenant workloads; resource contention remains.
- ✗
Migrate the application to use Amazon DynamoDB with tenant ID as the partition key, using global tables for scalability.
Why it's wrong here
This requires significant application changes (replacing ORM with DynamoDB API), contradicting the goal to minimize changes.
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 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?
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: Create separate RDS instances for each tenant and use RDS Proxy to pool connections per tenant. Modify the application to select the appropriate database instance based on tenant ID. — Option B is the best solution because it provides full tenant isolation by assigning each tenant a separate RDS instance, eliminating resource contention and ensuring predictable performance. RDS Proxy efficiently manages connection pooling for each instance, reducing overhead. The application change is minimal: the ORM can be configured to dynamically select the correct database instance based on the tenant ID, preserving the existing SQL-based logic. In contrast, Option A (Aurora Auto Scaling) still shares a single database, offering no isolation. Option C (RDS Proxy on the existing instance) also fails to isolate tenants. Option D (DynamoDB) would require a complete rewrite of the data layer, violating the requirement to minimize application changes.
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: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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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