- A
Add one more node of the same type to the cluster.
Why wrong: Adding nodes increases storage but also compute, which may be unnecessary.
- B
Use classic resize to change to a node type with larger storage.
Why wrong: Classic resize requires more downtime than elastic resize.
- C
Perform an elastic resize to change to a node type with larger storage per node.
Elastic resize completes in minutes and minimizes downtime.
- D
Create a second cluster and use Redshift Spectrum to offload queries.
Why wrong: Spectrum queries external data, but does not increase local storage.
Question 964 of 1,730
Using Elastic Resize to Change Node Type with Larger Storage
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 an Amazon Redshift cluster with three nodes. The data warehouse team notices that some queries are slow due to high disk usage. The cluster has reached 80% storage capacity. What is the MOST cost-effective way to increase storage without interrupting operations?
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
✓
Perform an elastic resize to change to a node type with larger storage per node.
Option C is correct because Amazon Redshift's elastic resize operation allows you to change the node type to one with larger storage per node without downtime, and it completes in minutes. This is the most cost-effective approach for a cluster at 80% capacity, as it avoids the overhead of provisioning additional nodes or the longer downtime associated with classic resize, while directly addressing the high disk usage by increasing per-node storage.
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.
- ✗
Add one more node of the same type to the cluster.
Why it's wrong here
Adding nodes increases storage but also compute, which may be unnecessary.
- ✗
Use classic resize to change to a node type with larger storage.
Why it's wrong here
Classic resize requires more downtime than elastic resize.
- ✓
Perform an elastic resize to change to a node type with larger storage per node.
Why this is correct
Elastic resize completes in minutes and minimizes downtime.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create a second cluster and use Redshift Spectrum to offload queries.
Why it's wrong here
Spectrum queries external data, but does not increase local storage.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse elastic resize with classic resize, assuming both require downtime, or they incorrectly think adding a node of the same type is a simple online operation, when in fact Redshift does not support online addition of nodes without a resize operation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Elastic resize works by provisioning a new cluster of the target node type in the same Availability Zone, then redirecting connections and synchronizing data in the background, typically completing in 10–15 minutes. Unlike classic resize, which requires a full data copy and can take hours for large clusters, elastic resize leverages Redshift's distributed architecture to minimize disruption. A subtle behavior is that elastic resize only supports changing to a node type with the same or larger storage per node, and it cannot be used to add nodes of the same type; for that, you would need a classic resize or a different approach.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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.
- →
Management and Operations — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Management and Operations practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All DBS-C01 questions
1,730 questions across all exam domains
- →
AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
DBS-C01 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related DBS-C01 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Workload-Specific Database Design practice questions
Practise DBS-C01 questions linked to Workload-Specific Database Design.
Deployment and Migration practice questions
Practise DBS-C01 questions linked to Deployment and Migration.
Management and Operations practice questions
Practise DBS-C01 questions linked to Management and Operations.
Monitoring and Troubleshooting practice questions
Practise DBS-C01 questions linked to Monitoring and Troubleshooting.
Database Security practice questions
Practise DBS-C01 questions linked to Database Security.
DBS-C01 fundamentals practice questions
Practise DBS-C01 questions linked to DBS-C01 fundamentals.
DBS-C01 scenario practice questions
Practise DBS-C01 questions linked to DBS-C01 scenario.
DBS-C01 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise DBS-C01 questions linked to DBS-C01 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free DBS-C01 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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: Perform an elastic resize to change to a node type with larger storage per node. — Option C is correct because Amazon Redshift's elastic resize operation allows you to change the node type to one with larger storage per node without downtime, and it completes in minutes. This is the most cost-effective approach for a cluster at 80% capacity, as it avoids the overhead of provisioning additional nodes or the longer downtime associated with classic resize, while directly addressing the high disk usage by increasing per-node storage.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More DBS-C01 practice questions
- A company is deploying a new application on Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL. The security policy requires that all data be enc…
- Match each AWS service to its primary purpose.
- A financial services company runs a production Amazon Aurora MySQL database cluster (1 writer, 2 readers) in us-east-1.…
- A company is designing a database for a global e-commerce platform that requires low-latency reads and writes from multi…
- A security auditor reviews the output of a DynamoDB table description command as shown in the exhibit. Which statement a…
- A company is migrating an on-premises Oracle database to Amazon RDS for Oracle. The database contains sensitive data tha…
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.