- A
Identify and optimize any long-running transactions or DDL statements that may be blocking replication.
Long-running transactions can cause replication lag by holding locks or delaying binary log events.
- B
Increase the DB instance class for both the primary and read replica to improve performance.
Why wrong: While increasing instance class might help, it is not always necessary and may not address the root cause.
- C
Monitor the ReplicaLag metric in Amazon CloudWatch to understand the trend and set alarms.
Monitoring lag helps in diagnosing the issue and taking corrective actions.
- D
Set the transaction isolation level to READ COMMITTED to reduce locking.
READ COMMITTED reduces locking compared to REPEATABLE READ, which can help reduce replication lag.
- E
Disable binary logging on the primary instance to reduce I/O overhead.
Why wrong: Disabling binlog stops replication entirely, which is not a valid solution.
Quick Answer
The correct answer involves setting the transaction isolation level to READ COMMITTED, optimizing long-running transactions and DDL statements, and monitoring replication metrics to pinpoint the cause of RDS MySQL replication lag. These three actions directly address the most common causes of lag: excessive locking from higher isolation levels, blocking DDL operations, and undiagnosed bottlenecks in the replica’s apply process. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how MySQL replication works under Multi-AZ and cross-Region read replicas, and it often appears as a multi-select question where you must distinguish targeted fixes from disruptive or generic ones. A common trap is choosing “disable binary logging” or “increase instance class” as a catch-all—binary logging stops replication entirely, and scaling alone doesn’t fix locking or long-running queries. Memory tip: “READ COMMITTED, monitor, and trim long transactions” to keep replication lag in check.
DBS-C01 Management and Operations Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of management and operations. 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 company runs an Amazon RDS for MySQL DB instance with Multi-AZ. The application team reports that a recent schema change caused a significant increase in replication lag. The instance has a read replica in a different AWS Region. Which THREE actions should be taken to reduce replication lag?
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
Identify and optimize any long-running transactions or DDL statements that may be blocking replication.
Options A, C, and E are correct: Identifying and optimizing long-running transactions and DDL statements reduces lag. Monitoring replication metrics helps pinpoint the cause. Using a lower isolation level reduces locking. Option B is wrong because disabling binary logging stops replication entirely. Option D is wrong because increasing instance class may help but is not a targeted fix; the other options address common causes of lag.
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.
- ✓
Identify and optimize any long-running transactions or DDL statements that may be blocking replication.
Why this is correct
Long-running transactions can cause replication lag by holding locks or delaying binary log events.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Increase the DB instance class for both the primary and read replica to improve performance.
Why it's wrong here
While increasing instance class might help, it is not always necessary and may not address the root cause.
- ✓
Monitor the ReplicaLag metric in Amazon CloudWatch to understand the trend and set alarms.
Why this is correct
Monitoring lag helps in diagnosing the issue and taking corrective actions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Set the transaction isolation level to READ COMMITTED to reduce locking.
Why this is correct
READ COMMITTED reduces locking compared to REPEATABLE READ, which can help reduce replication lag.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Disable binary logging on the primary instance to reduce I/O overhead.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling binlog stops replication entirely, which is not a valid solution.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
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
How to think about this question
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.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 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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Management and Operations — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Management and Operations — This question tests Management and Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Identify and optimize any long-running transactions or DDL statements that may be blocking replication. — Options A, C, and E are correct: Identifying and optimizing long-running transactions and DDL statements reduces lag. Monitoring replication metrics helps pinpoint the cause. Using a lower isolation level reduces locking. Option B is wrong because disabling binary logging stops replication entirely. Option D is wrong because increasing instance class may help but is not a targeted fix; the other options address common causes of lag.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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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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