- A
Use AWS WAF to block requests after 100 per second.
Why wrong: Incorrect: WAF does not throttle based on API keys.
- B
Set a reserved concurrency on the Lambda function to 100.
Why wrong: Incorrect: Reserved concurrency limits overall function invocations, not per API key.
- C
Configure a CloudWatch alarm to disable the API key after exceeding the limit.
Why wrong: Incorrect: CloudWatch alarms are reactive and not suitable for real-time throttling.
- D
Create a usage plan in API Gateway with a rate limit of 100 requests per second per API key.
Correct: Usage plans allow per-key throttling.
DVA-C02 Development with AWS Services Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of development with aws services. 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 is using Amazon API Gateway to expose a set of RESTful APIs. Each API call is processed by an AWS Lambda function. The company wants to enforce throttling limits to prevent abuse. Specifically, the company wants to allow 100 requests per second per API key. What is the SIMPLEST way to achieve this?
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 a usage plan in API Gateway with a rate limit of 100 requests per second per API key.
Option B is correct because API Gateway provides built-in usage plans with the ability to set rate limits per API key. Option A is wrong because Lambda reserved concurrency limits the overall concurrency, not per-key throttling. Option C is wrong because WAF is for web application firewall, not per-key throttling. Option D is wrong because CloudWatch alarms only alert, they don't throttle.
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.
- ✗
Use AWS WAF to block requests after 100 per second.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: WAF does not throttle based on API keys.
- ✗
Set a reserved concurrency on the Lambda function to 100.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: Reserved concurrency limits overall function invocations, not per API key.
- ✗
Configure a CloudWatch alarm to disable the API key after exceeding the limit.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: CloudWatch alarms are reactive and not suitable for real-time throttling.
- ✓
Create a usage plan in API Gateway with a rate limit of 100 requests per second per API key.
Why this is correct
Correct: Usage plans allow per-key throttling.
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
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 DVA-C02 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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Development with AWS Services — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DVA-C02 question test?
Development with AWS Services — This question tests Development with AWS Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a usage plan in API Gateway with a rate limit of 100 requests per second per API key. — Option B is correct because API Gateway provides built-in usage plans with the ability to set rate limits per API key. Option A is wrong because Lambda reserved concurrency limits the overall concurrency, not per-key throttling. Option C is wrong because WAF is for web application firewall, not per-key throttling. Option D is wrong because CloudWatch alarms only alert, they don't throttle.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?
Identify which DVA-C02 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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This DVA-C02 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 DVA-C02 exam.
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