- A
Configure DynamoDB auto scaling for the table
Auto scaling adjusts capacity based on traffic.
- B
Implement exponential backoff and retry in the application code
Retries help cope with transient throttling.
- C
Use a global secondary index with a different partition key
Why wrong: GSIs don't directly prevent throttling on the base table.
- D
Use strongly consistent reads for all queries
Why wrong: Strongly consistent reads consume more capacity and don't prevent throttling.
- E
Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) for caching
DAX reduces read load on the table.
Question 1,240 of 1,616
DynamoDB Handle Read Spikes with Auto Scaling, Retry Logic, and DAX
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of development with aws services. 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 developer is designing a serverless application that uses Amazon DynamoDB as the data store. The application must handle sudden spikes in read traffic without throttling. Which THREE actions should the developer take?
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
✓
Configure DynamoDB auto scaling for the table
DynamoDB auto scaling (option A) dynamically adjusts the provisioned read and write capacity based on actual traffic patterns, using CloudWatch alarms and the Application Auto Scaling service. This ensures the table can handle sudden spikes in read traffic without manual intervention, preventing throttling exceptions.
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.
- ✓
Configure DynamoDB auto scaling for the table
Why this is correct
Auto scaling adjusts capacity based on traffic.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Implement exponential backoff and retry in the application code
Why this is correct
Retries help cope with transient throttling.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use a global secondary index with a different partition key
Why it's wrong here
GSIs don't directly prevent throttling on the base table.
- ✗
Use strongly consistent reads for all queries
Why it's wrong here
Strongly consistent reads consume more capacity and don't prevent throttling.
- ✓
Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) for caching
Why this is correct
DAX reduces read load on the table.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse throttling prevention mechanisms (auto scaling, caching) with throttling mitigation techniques (exponential backoff) or unrelated features (GSIs, consistency models), leading them to select options that do not actually prevent throttling.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DynamoDB auto scaling works by setting a target utilization percentage (e.g., 70%) for provisioned capacity; the service scales up capacity when sustained traffic exceeds the target, and scales down when traffic drops. Exponential backoff (option B) is a client-side retry strategy that reduces request rate on throttling errors, but it does not prevent throttling from occurring in the first place—it only handles the consequences. DAX (option E) provides an in-memory cache that absorbs read spikes by serving frequently accessed items from memory, reducing the load on the DynamoDB table itself.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
What to study next
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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: Configure DynamoDB auto scaling for the table — DynamoDB auto scaling (option A) dynamically adjusts the provisioned read and write capacity based on actual traffic patterns, using CloudWatch alarms and the Application Auto Scaling service. This ensures the table can handle sudden spikes in read traffic without manual intervention, preventing throttling exceptions.
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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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