Quick Answer
The correct action is to offload SELECT queries to the read replica, as this directly reduces CPU utilization on the primary instance by shifting read-intensive workloads away from it. Read replicas are designed to handle asynchronous read traffic, allowing the primary to focus on write operations and transactional processing, which lowers its CPU load without requiring a failover or instance resize. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of read replica use cases versus Multi-AZ failover—a common trap is confusing Multi-AZ (which only provides high availability) with read scaling. Remember, Multi-AZ does not offload reads; it only mirrors writes for failover. A key memory tip: "Reads go to replicas, writes stay with the primary—Multi-AZ is for survival, not for CPU revival."
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 company is running an Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance with Multi-AZ deployment. They notice that the primary DB instance is experiencing high CPU utilization. The read replica shows normal CPU. Which action should the DBA take to reduce the load on the primary instance?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Failover to the standby instance
Why wrong: Failover does not reduce CPU; it just changes the primary.
Increase the DB instance size
Why wrong: Scaling up helps but is more disruptive; offloading reads is less invasive.
Convert the read replica to a Multi-AZ standby
Why wrong: Read replicas are separate; converting does not reduce primary CPU.
Offload SELECT queries to the read replica
This reduces CPU on primary by moving read traffic.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Offload SELECT queries to the read replica
Option A is correct because moving read-intensive workloads to the read replica reduces CPU on the primary. Option B is wrong because Multi-AZ failover does not help with CPU load. Option C is wrong because increasing instance size would help but is not the best first step. Option D is wrong because read replicas are asynchronous and cannot be used for writes.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Failover to the standby instance
Why it's wrong here
Failover does not reduce CPU; it just changes the primary.
Increase the DB instance size
Why it's wrong here
Scaling up helps but is more disruptive; offloading reads is less invasive.
Convert the read replica to a Multi-AZ standby
Why it's wrong here
Read replicas are separate; converting does not reduce primary CPU.
Offload SELECT queries to the read replica
Why this is correct
This reduces CPU on primary by moving read traffic.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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
Monitoring and Troubleshooting — This question tests Monitoring and Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Offload SELECT queries to the read replica — Option A is correct because moving read-intensive workloads to the read replica reduces CPU on the primary. Option B is wrong because Multi-AZ failover does not help with CPU load. Option C is wrong because increasing instance size would help but is not the best first step. Option D is wrong because read replicas are asynchronous and cannot be used for writes.
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.
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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