DBS-C01 Workload-Specific Database Design Practice Question
Which TWO design patterns are commonly used to handle hot partitions in Amazon DynamoDB? (Choose 2.)
⚠ Common exam trap
AWS often tests the misconception that increasing capacity units alone resolves hot partitions, but the real solution requires redistributing the workload across partitions via sharding or suffix-based strategies.
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
✓
Write sharding
Write sharding distributes writes across multiple partition keys to prevent a single partition from exceeding the 1,000 WCU limit. Adding random suffixes to partition keys is a specific write sharding technique that spreads writes across many partitions, avoiding hot spots.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Write sharding
Why this is correct
Distributes writes across many partition key values.
- ✗
Decreasing write capacity units
Why it's wrong here
Worsens throttling.
- ✗
Using a single partition key
Why it's wrong here
Creates hot partitions.
- ✗
Increasing read capacity units
Why it's wrong here
Does not solve write hot spots.
- ✓
Adding random suffixes to partition keys
Why this is correct
Spreads writes across partitions.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This DBS-C01 question is part of Courseiva's 1,663-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.