- A
Redshift does not support procedural languages like PL/SQL; stored procedures must be rewritten in SQL or Python.
Redshift supports PL/pgSQL and Python, but not Oracle's PL/SQL.
- B
Redshift supports temporary tables, but they are session-scoped and not automatically dropped in all cases.
Temporary tables exist for the duration of a session and must be managed carefully.
- C
Redshift Concurrency Scaling can handle thousands of concurrent queries.
Why wrong: Concurrency Scaling is a feature for handling spikes, but not a primary migration consideration.
- D
Redshift does not support cursors; result sets must be handled differently.
Cursors are not supported in Redshift; alternative patterns must be used.
- E
Redshift automatically scales compute capacity based on workload.
Why wrong: Auto-scaling is not automatic; it requires elastic resize or concurrency scaling configuration.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is that Redshift does not support Oracle cursors, so result sets must be handled differently, and stored procedures must be rewritten using Redshift’s SQL-based PL/pgSQL or Python UDFs. This is a fundamental limitation because Oracle’s PL/SQL relies on cursors for row-by-row processing, temporary tables for intermediate data, and procedural constructs like loops and exception handling—none of which translate directly to Redshift’s massively parallel processing (MPP) architecture, which favors set-based operations. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this concept tests your understanding of migration design considerations, often appearing in scenario-based questions where you must identify which Oracle features require re-architecture. A common trap is assuming Redshift supports cursors or that PL/SQL can be migrated with minimal changes; in reality, you must plan for rewriting complex logic into Redshift’s supported languages. Memory tip: “No cursors, no PL/SQL—Redshift wants sets, not rows.”
DBS-C01 Workload-Specific Database Design Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of workload-specific database design. 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 company is migrating a legacy Oracle data warehouse to Amazon Redshift. The source uses complex stored procedures with cursors, temporary tables, and PL/SQL. Which THREE design considerations should the company evaluate?
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
Redshift does not support procedural languages like PL/SQL; stored procedures must be rewritten in SQL or Python.
Amazon Redshift does not support Oracle's PL/SQL procedural language. Stored procedures must be rewritten using Redshift's SQL-based procedural language (PL/pgSQL) or Python (via UDFs). This is a critical migration consideration because complex logic involving loops, conditionals, and error handling must be translated to supported constructs.
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.
- ✓
Redshift does not support procedural languages like PL/SQL; stored procedures must be rewritten in SQL or Python.
Why this is correct
Redshift supports PL/pgSQL and Python, but not Oracle's PL/SQL.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Redshift supports temporary tables, but they are session-scoped and not automatically dropped in all cases.
Why this is correct
Temporary tables exist for the duration of a session and must be managed carefully.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Redshift Concurrency Scaling can handle thousands of concurrent queries.
Why it's wrong here
Concurrency Scaling is a feature for handling spikes, but not a primary migration consideration.
- ✓
Redshift does not support cursors; result sets must be handled differently.
Why this is correct
Cursors are not supported in Redshift; alternative patterns must be used.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Redshift automatically scales compute capacity based on workload.
Why it's wrong here
Auto-scaling is not automatic; it requires elastic resize or concurrency scaling configuration.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume Redshift supports all Oracle database features (like PL/SQL, cursors, and auto-scaling) because both are relational databases, but Redshift is a columnar, MPP data warehouse with significant differences in procedural logic and resource management.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Redshift's procedural language for stored procedures is based on PL/pgSQL, which supports variables, cursors (via FOR loops), and exception handling, but it lacks Oracle-specific features like autonomous transactions or bulk collect. Temporary tables in Redshift are session-scoped and are automatically dropped when the session ends, but if a session is reused (e.g., via connection pooling), they persist until explicitly dropped, which can cause naming conflicts or stale data. Cursors in Redshift are supported only within stored procedures using DECLARE CURSOR, but they are read-only and cannot be used for positioned updates; result sets from queries must be consumed via FETCH or by returning a REFCURSOR.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
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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: Redshift does not support procedural languages like PL/SQL; stored procedures must be rewritten in SQL or Python. — Amazon Redshift does not support Oracle's PL/SQL procedural language. Stored procedures must be rewritten using Redshift's SQL-based procedural language (PL/pgSQL) or Python (via UDFs). This is a critical migration consideration because complex logic involving loops, conditionals, and error handling must be translated to supported constructs.
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: Jun 24, 2026
This DBS-C01 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DBS-C01 exam.
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