The correct answer is to configure failure handling with bisect batch on error and an on-failure destination. This feature splits a failed batch of records from a Kinesis stream into two smaller batches, allowing the single poison record to be isolated and retried separately without blocking the entire shard. Once the retry limit is exhausted, the on-failure destination—such as an SQS queue or SNS topic—captures the failed record, keeping the Lambda function processing smoothly. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Lambda event source mapping error handling, often appearing as a troubleshooting question where a single bad record stalls the stream. A common trap is to assume increasing the retry count or batch size solves the issue, but bisect batch is the targeted fix. Memory tip: think “bisect to dissect”—splitting the batch helps dissect out the poison record.
DVA-C02 Troubleshooting and Optimization Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of troubleshooting and optimization. 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 Lambda function using a Kinesis event source repeatedly retries one bad record and blocks progress in the shard. Which feature helps isolate failed records after retry limits?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure failure handling with bisect batch on error and an on-failure destination where supported
Option C is correct because Lambda's Kinesis event source mapping supports a 'bisect batch on error' feature that splits a failed batch into two smaller batches, allowing the bad record to be isolated and retried separately. Additionally, configuring an on-failure destination (e.g., an SQS queue or SNS topic) sends the record to a dead-letter destination after the retry limit is exhausted, preventing the shard from blocking progress.
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 memory to 10 GB only
Why it's wrong here
This does not meet the stated requirement as directly as the correct option.
✗
Disable batch processing
Why it's wrong here
This does not meet the stated requirement as directly as the correct option.
✓
Configure failure handling with bisect batch on error and an on-failure destination where supported
Why this is correct
Correct for the stated requirement.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Convert the stream to an S3 bucket
Why it's wrong here
This does not meet the stated requirement as directly as the correct option.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think increasing memory or disabling batch processing will solve the blocking issue, but they fail to recognize that only explicit failure handling with bisect and a dead-letter destination can isolate and remove the bad record without manual intervention.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, when 'bisect batch on error' is enabled, Lambda's event source mapping automatically halves the batch size on each retry until the bad record is isolated, at which point it is sent to the configured on-failure destination. This mechanism is part of the AWS Lambda event source mapping API (CreateEventSourceMapping) and works specifically with Kinesis and DynamoDB Streams. In a real-world scenario, a malformed JSON record in a high-throughput Kinesis stream could stall processing for minutes without this feature, causing downstream data pipelines to fall behind.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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.
Troubleshooting and Optimization — This question tests Troubleshooting and Optimization — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure failure handling with bisect batch on error and an on-failure destination where supported — Option C is correct because Lambda's Kinesis event source mapping supports a 'bisect batch on error' feature that splits a failed batch into two smaller batches, allowing the bad record to be isolated and retried separately. Additionally, configuring an on-failure destination (e.g., an SQS queue or SNS topic) sends the record to a dead-letter destination after the retry limit is exhausted, preventing the shard from blocking progress.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 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.
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Question Discussion
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