- A
Implement Amazon ElastiCache for Redis to cache common queries.
Caching reduces database load.
- B
Store large objects in Amazon S3 and reference them.
Why wrong: Does not directly improve read scalability for transactional data.
- C
Enable Multi-AZ for automatic failover.
Why wrong: Multi-AZ does not improve read scalability.
- D
Create one or more read replicas in the same region.
Read replicas offload read queries.
- E
Migrate data to Amazon DynamoDB with Global Tables.
Why wrong: Different database, not a direct improvement.
Question 17 of 1,730
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 runs a PostgreSQL database on Amazon RDS for a CRM application. The database is 500 GB and experiences high read traffic. The company wants to improve read scalability and reduce latency. Which TWO actions should the company take? (Choose two.)
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
✓
Implement Amazon ElastiCache for Redis to cache common queries.
Option A is correct because Amazon ElastiCache for Redis can cache the results of frequently executed read queries, offloading read traffic from the RDS PostgreSQL instance and reducing latency for repeated queries. This is especially effective for read-heavy workloads where the same data is requested many times, as Redis provides sub-millisecond response times and reduces the load on the database.
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.
- ✓
Implement Amazon ElastiCache for Redis to cache common queries.
Why this is correct
Caching reduces database load.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Store large objects in Amazon S3 and reference them.
Why it's wrong here
Does not directly improve read scalability for transactional data.
- ✗
Enable Multi-AZ for automatic failover.
Why it's wrong here
Multi-AZ does not improve read scalability.
- ✓
Create one or more read replicas in the same region.
Why this is correct
Read replicas offload read queries.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Migrate data to Amazon DynamoDB with Global Tables.
Why it's wrong here
Different database, not a direct improvement.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Multi-AZ (which is for high availability) with read replicas (which are for read scaling), and may incorrectly think that enabling Multi-AZ also distributes read traffic, when in fact the standby instance is not accessible for reads.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Amazon RDS read replicas use PostgreSQL's native streaming replication to maintain an asynchronous copy of the primary database, allowing read queries to be distributed across multiple endpoints. ElastiCache for Redis can be configured with a write-through or lazy-loading caching strategy, and when combined with read replicas, it can further reduce load by caching the most frequently accessed query results, while read replicas handle the remaining read traffic. In a real-world scenario, a CRM application with dashboards and reporting queries benefits from caching aggregated results in Redis and distributing point-lookup queries across read replicas.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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?
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: Implement Amazon ElastiCache for Redis to cache common queries. — Option A is correct because Amazon ElastiCache for Redis can cache the results of frequently executed read queries, offloading read traffic from the RDS PostgreSQL instance and reducing latency for repeated queries. This is especially effective for read-heavy workloads where the same data is requested many times, as Redis provides sub-millisecond response times and reduces the load on the database.
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
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