Quick Answer
The answer is Performance Insights, which is the correct monitoring tool to identify queries consuming the most memory when RDS MySQL FreeableMemory is consistently low. Performance Insights provides granular, query-level performance data by capturing database load and correlating it with SQL statements, allowing you to pinpoint memory-intensive queries that are driving FreeableMemory below 100 MB. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between monitoring services: CloudWatch Logs handles log files, CloudTrail tracks API calls, and S3 is object storage, none of which offer query-level memory analysis. A common trap is assuming CloudWatch metrics alone suffice, but they only show aggregated memory usage, not the specific queries causing the drain. Remember the mnemonic: “Performance Insights pinpoints the piggy queries” — when FreeableMemory is low, look to Performance Insights for the SQL culprits.
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring and troubleshooting. 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 database specialist notices that an RDS MySQL instance's FreeableMemory metric is consistently below 100 MB. Which monitoring tool should be used to identify the queries consuming the most memory?
Performance Insights
Performance Insights provides database load and wait events per query.
Amazon S3 access logs
Why wrong: S3 access logs are unrelated to RDS memory.
AWS CloudTrail
Why wrong: CloudTrail records API calls, not database performance.
CloudWatch Logs
Why wrong: CloudWatch Logs collect database logs, not memory usage per query.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Performance Insights
Option B is correct because Performance Insights shows detailed query-level performance. Option A is wrong because CloudWatch Logs are for log files. Option C is wrong because CloudTrail is for API calls. Option D is wrong because S3 does not monitor RDS memory.
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.
Performance Insights
Why this is correct
Performance Insights provides database load and wait events per query.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Amazon S3 access logs
Why it's wrong here
S3 access logs are unrelated to RDS memory.
AWS CloudTrail
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail records API calls, not database performance.
CloudWatch Logs
Why it's wrong here
CloudWatch Logs collect database logs, not memory usage per query.
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 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
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: Performance Insights — Option B is correct because Performance Insights shows detailed query-level performance. Option A is wrong because CloudWatch Logs are for log files. Option C is wrong because CloudTrail is for API calls. Option D is wrong because S3 does not monitor RDS memory.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 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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