The answer is to migrate the database to Amazon Aurora MySQL. This is the most effective solution because Aurora’s distributed, SSD-backed storage system decouples compute from storage, allowing writes to be committed to a six-replica quorum in parallel across multiple Availability Zones, which dramatically reduces write latency and offloads CPU overhead from the database instance. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that Aurora’s optimized write path outperforms standard RDS MySQL, even with larger instance sizes, and that read replicas or Multi-AZ configurations do not address write-heavy CPU bottlenecks. A common trap is assuming that scaling up the instance (Option A) will fix the root cause, but Aurora’s architectural advantage in write throughput is the key differentiator. Memory tip: think “Aurora writes like a distributed fleet, RDS writes like a single truck”—the quorum commit is the secret sauce.
DBS-C01 Management and Operations Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of management and operations. 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 critical application on Amazon RDS for MySQL with Multi-AZ deployment. The application performs frequent writes. The DB instance's CPU utilization is consistently above 80%, and the write latency is high. The company wants to improve write performance without changing the application code. Which solution is MOST effective?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Migrate the database to Amazon Aurora MySQL.
Migrating to Amazon Aurora MySQL provides better write performance due to its distributed storage and optimized write path. Option A (increasing instance size) can help but may not be as effective as Aurora; Option C (adding read replicas) does not help write performance; Option D (using Multi-AZ with synchronous replication) already has Multi-AZ, and the latency is due to CPU, not replication.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Enable Multi-AZ with synchronous replication to a standby instance.
Why it's wrong here
Multi-AZ is already enabled; this does not address high CPU.
✗
Add a read replica to offload read traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Read replicas do not improve write performance.
✗
Increase the DB instance class to a larger size with more vCPUs.
Why it's wrong here
This may help but is not the most effective solution; Aurora offers better write performance.
✓
Migrate the database to Amazon Aurora MySQL.
Why this is correct
Aurora provides higher write throughput and lower latency.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DBS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Management and Operations — This question tests Management and Operations — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Migrate the database to Amazon Aurora MySQL. — Migrating to Amazon Aurora MySQL provides better write performance due to its distributed storage and optimized write path. Option A (increasing instance size) can help but may not be as effective as Aurora; Option C (adding read replicas) does not help write performance; Option D (using Multi-AZ with synchronous replication) already has Multi-AZ, and the latency is due to CPU, not replication.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DBS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Question Discussion
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