- A
Modify the DB instance to a larger instance class.
Why wrong: Modifying the instance class requires a reboot, causing downtime.
- B
Use an Amazon ElastiCache cluster to cache frequent queries.
Why wrong: Caching may help but does not directly reduce CPU utilization from database queries.
- C
Enable Multi-AZ on the DB instance.
Why wrong: Multi-AZ provides failover but does not distribute read traffic.
- D
Create an RDS read replica and redirect read queries to it.
Read replicas offload read traffic and can be created without downtime.
Question 715 of 1,730
RDS Read Replica for Read-Heavy Workloads
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of management and operations. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 running an Amazon RDS for MySQL DB instance. The DB instance is experiencing high CPU utilization due to a sudden increase in read traffic. The company needs to reduce the load on the primary DB instance with minimal downtime. Which solution should be used?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"primary"Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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
✓
Create an RDS read replica and redirect read queries to it.
Option D is correct because creating an Amazon RDS read replica allows you to offload read traffic from the primary DB instance to one or more read replicas, which can handle SELECT queries. This reduces CPU utilization on the primary instance with minimal downtime, as read replicas are asynchronous replicas that can be promoted to a primary if needed. Redirecting read queries to the read replica effectively distributes the load without requiring a change to the primary instance's configuration.
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.
- ✗
Modify the DB instance to a larger instance class.
Why it's wrong here
Modifying the instance class requires a reboot, causing downtime.
- ✗
Use an Amazon ElastiCache cluster to cache frequent queries.
Why it's wrong here
Caching may help but does not directly reduce CPU utilization from database queries.
- ✗
Enable Multi-AZ on the DB instance.
Why it's wrong here
Multi-AZ provides failover but does not distribute read traffic.
- ✓
Create an RDS read replica and redirect read queries to it.
Why this is correct
Read replicas offload read traffic and can be created without downtime.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Multi-AZ (which provides high availability but does not offload read traffic) with read replicas (which are designed to offload read traffic), leading them to select Option C incorrectly.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Amazon RDS read replicas use MySQL's native asynchronous replication (based on binary log position or Global Transaction ID) to maintain consistency, and they can be promoted to a standalone primary instance in minutes. In a real-world scenario, if the read traffic spike is due to a reporting query or a dashboard refresh, you can use a read replica with a different instance class or storage type to optimize cost and performance, and you can also enable Multi-AZ on the read replica itself for high availability. The read replica can be in the same region or a different region, and it supports automated backups and manual snapshots independently.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: Create an RDS read replica and redirect read queries to it. — Option D is correct because creating an Amazon RDS read replica allows you to offload read traffic from the primary DB instance to one or more read replicas, which can handle SELECT queries. This reduces CPU utilization on the primary instance with minimal downtime, as read replicas are asynchronous replicas that can be promoted to a primary if needed. Redirecting read queries to the read replica effectively distributes the load without requiring a change to the primary instance's configuration.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on DBS-C01
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company is running an Amazon RDS for MySQL Multi-AZ DB instance. They notice increased latency during peak hours. The DB instance type is db.r5.large, and the storage is General Purpose SSD (gp2) with 500 GB. The application is read-heavy with frequent SELECT queries. Which action would most likely resolve the latency issue without changing the DB instance class?
medium- A.Enable Performance Insights and analyze queries.
- ✓ B.Create an Amazon RDS read replica in the same region.
- C.Enable Multi-AZ on the existing DB instance.
- D.Increase the allocated storage to 1,000 GB.
Why B: Option B is correct because adding a read replica offloads read traffic from the primary instance, reducing latency. Option A is wrong because enabling Performance Insights is for monitoring and analysis, not directly improving performance. Option C is wrong because Multi-AZ is for high availability, not read scaling. Option D is wrong because increasing storage size may improve IOPS but does not directly address the read load.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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