DVA-C02 Development with AWS Services Practice Question
A developer needs to send large files (up to 5 GB) from a web application to Amazon S3. The application runs on EC2 instances. Which approach is MOST efficient and reliable?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers think S3 Transfer Acceleration (Option D) is the best choice for large files because it speeds up transfers, but they overlook that multipart upload is the fundamental mechanism for reliability and efficiency with large objects, while Transfer Acceleration is an optional performance enhancement that can be used on top of multipart upload.
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
✓
Use S3 multipart upload to upload the file in parts.
S3 multipart upload is the most efficient and reliable approach for uploading large files (up to 5 GB) because it allows the file to be split into smaller parts that can be uploaded in parallel, improving throughput and resilience. If a part fails, only that part needs to be retried, not the entire file, and the upload can be paused and resumed. This is the recommended AWS method for objects larger than 100 MB and is required for objects over 5 GB.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Save the file to EC2 instance store and then copy to S3.
Why it's wrong here
EC2 instance store provides temporary block-level storage for an instance, but it is inherently ephemeral. Data stored on an instance store volume is lost when the instance is stopped, terminated, or fails, making it unsuitable for durable storage of files before uploading to S3. This approach introduces an unnecessary intermediate step, increasing latency and complexity without providing any benefit for large file uploads to S3.
- ✗
Upload the file as a single S3 PutObject operation.
Why it's wrong here
A single S3 PutObject operation is limited to a maximum object size of 5 GB. Attempting to upload a 5 GB file via a single PutObject operation is prone to failure due to network interruptions or timeouts, especially over less reliable connections. If the upload fails, the entire transfer must be restarted from the beginning, leading to significant wasted bandwidth and time.
- ✓
Use S3 multipart upload to upload the file in parts.
Why this is correct
S3 multipart upload is the recommended and most efficient method for uploading large objects, especially those exceeding 100 MB, and is required for objects larger than 5 GB. This method breaks the file into smaller, independent parts, which can be uploaded concurrently, significantly improving throughput and resilience. If a part fails, only that specific part needs to be re-uploaded, rather than the entire file, ensuring greater reliability and faster recovery from network issues.
- ✗
Use S3 Transfer Acceleration to upload the file.
Why it's wrong here
S3 Transfer Acceleration utilizes Amazon CloudFront's globally distributed edge locations to speed up uploads and downloads by routing data over an optimized network path to S3. While it can reduce transfer times, it does not inherently provide mechanisms for handling large files beyond the 5 GB single-object limit or improve the reliability of the upload process itself. It's a network optimization service, not a file segmentation or resume capability.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
Go deeper
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.