- A
Implement an Amazon RDS Proxy in front of the Aurora cluster to manage database connections efficiently.
RDS Proxy manages database connections efficiently, reducing connection overhead and improving latency. This can help with slow queries caused by connection management issues.
- B
Use Amazon ElastiCache to cache frequently accessed data.
Why wrong: ElastiCache caches frequently accessed data, reducing database load. However, it requires application code changes to implement caching logic, which is not allowed per the condition.
- C
Increase the desired capacity of the Auto Scaling group to add more EC2 instances.
Why wrong: Increasing the Auto Scaling group capacity adds more EC2 instances but does not address the database CPU issue; it could even increase the number of database connections.
- D
Upgrade the Aurora instance to a larger instance type.
Why wrong: Upgrading the Aurora instance to a larger type can improve performance but does not address connection pooling and may be more expensive than using RDS Proxy.
Improving Database Performance with Amazon RDS Proxy
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of development with aws services. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 runs a production web application on AWS. The application consists of an Application Load Balancer (ALB) that distributes traffic across multiple EC2 instances in an Auto Scaling group. The application uses an Amazon Aurora MySQL database. The operations team reports that the application is experiencing intermittent latency spikes, especially during peak hours. Investigation reveals that the database CPU utilization is consistently above 80% and there are many slow queries. The developer is asked to improve database performance without changing the application code. Which solution should the developer implement?
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
Implement an Amazon RDS Proxy in front of the Aurora cluster to manage database connections efficiently.
Option A is correct because RDS Proxy manages database connections efficiently, reducing connection overhead and improving latency. Option B is incorrect because ElastiCache might help with caching but requires application code changes to implement caching logic. Option C is incorrect because increasing the number of EC2 instances does not resolve the database CPU issue; it only adds more clients hitting the database. Option D is incorrect because while upgrading the instance size can help, it does not address the connection management issue and may be costly.
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.
- ✓
Implement an Amazon RDS Proxy in front of the Aurora cluster to manage database connections efficiently.
Why this is correct
RDS Proxy manages database connections efficiently, reducing connection overhead and improving latency. This can help with slow queries caused by connection management issues.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use Amazon ElastiCache to cache frequently accessed data.
Why it's wrong here
ElastiCache caches frequently accessed data, reducing database load. However, it requires application code changes to implement caching logic, which is not allowed per the condition.
- ✗
Increase the desired capacity of the Auto Scaling group to add more EC2 instances.
Why it's wrong here
Increasing the Auto Scaling group capacity adds more EC2 instances but does not address the database CPU issue; it could even increase the number of database connections.
- ✗
Upgrade the Aurora instance to a larger instance type.
Why it's wrong here
Upgrading the Aurora instance to a larger type can improve performance but does not address connection pooling and may be more expensive than using RDS Proxy.
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.
Visual reference
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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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: Implement an Amazon RDS Proxy in front of the Aurora cluster to manage database connections efficiently. — Option A is correct because RDS Proxy manages database connections efficiently, reducing connection overhead and improving latency. Option B is incorrect because ElastiCache might help with caching but requires application code changes to implement caching logic. Option C is incorrect because increasing the number of EC2 instances does not resolve the database CPU issue; it only adds more clients hitting the database. Option D is incorrect because while upgrading the instance size can help, it does not address the connection management issue and may be costly.
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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