The correct answer is to send S3 events to an SQS queue and configure the Lambda function to poll the queue. This solution works because it decouples event delivery from Lambda invocation, so if the function throttles due to concurrency limits or fails, the event remains safely in the queue for retry rather than being lost. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of asynchronous invocation pitfalls and the need for a buffer to handle S3 event lost Lambda throttling SQS queue patterns. A common trap is assuming that simply increasing Lambda concurrency or adding retries to the S3 trigger will solve the issue, but S3 does not retry failed invocations after a brief window—only an SQS queue provides durable, persistent storage for unprocessed events. Memory tip: think of the SQS queue as a “safety net” that catches every S3 event, ensuring no object falls through the cracks when Lambda is overwhelmed.
DVA-C02 Troubleshooting and Optimization Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of troubleshooting and optimization. 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 developer configured an S3 bucket to trigger a Lambda function on object creation. The Lambda function processes the object and then deletes it. Some objects are not being processed. What should the developer do to ensure all objects are processed?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Send S3 events to an SQS queue and configure the Lambda function to poll the queue.
Option C is correct because sending S3 events to an SQS queue decouples event delivery from Lambda invocation. If the Lambda function fails or throttles, the event remains in the queue and can be retried, ensuring no objects are missed. Without a queue, S3 events that fail to invoke Lambda (e.g., due to concurrency limits) are lost, leading to unprocessed objects.
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.
✗
Assign a new IAM role to the Lambda function with S3 permissions.
Why it's wrong here
Permissions are likely already correct if some objects are processed.
✗
Enable S3 versioning on the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
Versioning does not improve event notification reliability.
✓
Send S3 events to an SQS queue and configure the Lambda function to poll the queue.
Why this is correct
SQS provides reliable message delivery with retries.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Increase the Lambda function timeout.
Why it's wrong here
Timeout affects processing, not event triggering.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume the issue is a permission or timeout problem, when in fact the root cause is the loss of S3 event notifications due to Lambda throttling or transient failures, which a queue-based architecture resolves.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
S3 event notifications are delivered asynchronously and have a limited retry window (typically 24 hours) before being discarded. By routing events through an SQS queue, you gain durable storage and can configure a dead-letter queue (DLQ) for events that repeatedly fail processing. This pattern also allows Lambda to poll the queue at its own pace, smoothing out traffic spikes and preventing concurrency throttling from dropping events.
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: Send S3 events to an SQS queue and configure the Lambda function to poll the queue. — Option C is correct because sending S3 events to an SQS queue decouples event delivery from Lambda invocation. If the Lambda function fails or throttles, the event remains in the queue and can be retried, ensuring no objects are missed. Without a queue, S3 events that fail to invoke Lambda (e.g., due to concurrency limits) are lost, leading to unprocessed objects.
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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