The answer is to use Amazon ElastiCache to cache frequent writes, as this directly reduces the CPU load on the RDS for MySQL primary instance by offloading repetitive write operations to an in-memory cache. When an application is write-heavy, each write transaction consumes CPU cycles for query parsing, index updates, and disk I/O; ElastiCache absorbs these writes by storing frequently updated data in memory, allowing the database to handle only the final or less frequent persistent writes. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that read replicas offload read traffic only, while Multi-AZ provides high availability without reducing CPU load, and scaling up the instance is a temporary fix. A common trap is assuming a read replica helps with writes—it does not. Memory tip: “Writes wear out the writer; cache the chatter to spare the database.”
DBS-C01 Management and Operations Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of management and operations. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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's Amazon RDS for MySQL instance is experiencing high CPU utilization. The company's application is write-heavy. The database administrator wants to reduce the load on the primary instance. Which solution is MOST effective?
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use Amazon ElastiCache to cache frequent writes.
Option C is correct because creating a read replica offloads read queries, not writes. Option D is correct because Multi-AZ with standby provides high availability but does not offload reads. Option A is incorrect because increasing instance size addresses symptoms temporarily. Option B is incorrect because adding a read replica does not reduce write load.
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.
✗
Increase the instance size of the RDS instance.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing instance size may help but is not a targeted solution for write-heavy load.
✗
Create a read replica and redirect read traffic to it.
Why it's wrong here
Read replicas offload read traffic, not write load.
✗
Enable Multi-AZ deployment to distribute writes.
Why it's wrong here
Multi-AZ provides high availability but does not distribute writes.
✓
Use Amazon ElastiCache to cache frequent writes.
Why this is correct
Caching reduces database writes by serving data from cache.
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
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
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.
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: Use Amazon ElastiCache to cache frequent writes. — Option C is correct because creating a read replica offloads read queries, not writes. Option D is correct because Multi-AZ with standby provides high availability but does not offload reads. Option A is incorrect because increasing instance size addresses symptoms temporarily. Option B is incorrect because adding a read replica does not reduce write load.
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.
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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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
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