- A
Create indexes on frequently queried columns
Why wrong: Redshift does not use indexes; it uses distribution and sort keys.
- B
Recreate all materialized views using standard views
Why wrong: Redshift supports materialized views; standard views may not provide the same performance.
- C
Define appropriate distribution keys and sort keys
These are the primary performance optimization mechanisms in Redshift.
- D
Partition tables by date using the PARTITION BY clause
Why wrong: Redshift does not support traditional partitioning; use distribution and sort keys.
Question 509 of 1,730
DBS-C01 Deployment and Migration Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of deployment and migration. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 financial services company is migrating a 10 TB Oracle data warehouse to Amazon Redshift. The source database uses a combination of partitioned tables, indexes, and materialized views. The migration team plans to use AWS SCT and DMS. Which approach should the team take to optimize query performance after migration?
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
✓
Define appropriate distribution keys and sort keys
Amazon Redshift is a columnar data warehouse that does not support traditional indexes or the PARTITION BY clause used in Oracle. Instead, query performance in Redshift is optimized by defining appropriate distribution keys (to minimize data shuffling across nodes) and sort keys (to enable zone maps and reduce the amount of data scanned). This approach directly addresses the performance needs of the migrated 10 TB data warehouse.
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.
- ✗
Create indexes on frequently queried columns
Why it's wrong here
Redshift does not use indexes; it uses distribution and sort keys.
- ✗
Recreate all materialized views using standard views
Why it's wrong here
Redshift supports materialized views; standard views may not provide the same performance.
- ✓
Define appropriate distribution keys and sort keys
Why this is correct
These are the primary performance optimization mechanisms in Redshift.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Partition tables by date using the PARTITION BY clause
Why it's wrong here
Redshift does not support traditional partitioning; use distribution and sort keys.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates familiar with traditional RDBMS concepts (indexes, table partitioning) assume they apply directly to Redshift, but Redshift uses a fundamentally different architecture where distribution and sort keys are the primary performance levers.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Redshift's columnar storage and zone maps automatically track the minimum and maximum values for each block of data based on the sort key. When a query includes a filter on the sort key column, Redshift can skip entire blocks that fall outside the filter range, dramatically reducing I/O. Distribution keys determine how data is distributed across compute nodes; choosing a key that aligns with join columns can avoid expensive data redistribution during query execution.
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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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Deployment and Migration — This question tests Deployment and Migration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Define appropriate distribution keys and sort keys — Amazon Redshift is a columnar data warehouse that does not support traditional indexes or the PARTITION BY clause used in Oracle. Instead, query performance in Redshift is optimized by defining appropriate distribution keys (to minimize data shuffling across nodes) and sort keys (to enable zone maps and reduce the amount of data scanned). This approach directly addresses the performance needs of the migrated 10 TB data warehouse.
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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