- A
Enable AWS CloudTrail to log DynamoDB read requests.
Why wrong: CloudTrail logs API calls, not capacity metrics.
- B
Set up an AWS Lambda function to monitor the DynamoDB ReadThrottleEvents metric.
Why wrong: Throttle events indicate already throttled; proactive monitoring is needed.
- C
Use CloudWatch to monitor the ConsumedReadCapacityUnits and ProvisionedReadCapacityUnits metrics.
These metrics are emitted by DynamoDB to CloudWatch.
- D
Configure DynamoDB to stream all read events to CloudWatch Logs.
Why wrong: DynamoDB does not stream read events to CloudWatch Logs.
- E
Create a CloudWatch alarm with a metric math expression that calculates (ConsumedReadCapacityUnits / ProvisionedReadCapacityUnits) and set the threshold to 0.8.
This alarm will trigger when usage exceeds 80%.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to create a CloudWatch alarm with a metric math expression that calculates (ConsumedReadCapacityUnits / ProvisionedReadCapacityUnits) and set the threshold to 0.8. This works because DynamoDB automatically emits both ConsumedReadCapacityUnits and ProvisionedReadCapacityUnits as standard CloudWatch metrics, allowing you to build a precise utilization ratio without needing custom instrumentation. Monitoring read capacity utilization this way directly addresses the need to track how close traffic is to throttling, as the alarm triggers when consumed capacity exceeds 80% of provisioned for five consecutive minutes. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to combine metric math with CloudWatch alarms rather than relying on single-metric thresholds, which is a common trap—candidates often forget that ProvisionedReadCapacityUnits is a separate metric that must be divided into consumed units. Remember the memory tip: "Divide to avoid being throttled"—always use metric math to express utilization as a ratio, not a raw value.
DOP-C02 Monitoring and Logging Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring and logging. 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 DevOps engineer is setting up monitoring for an Amazon DynamoDB table that experiences high read traffic. They want to monitor the read capacity consumption and be alerted when the consumed read capacity exceeds 80% of the provisioned capacity for 5 consecutive minutes. Which TWO steps should they take? (Select TWO.)
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 CloudWatch to monitor the ConsumedReadCapacityUnits and ProvisionedReadCapacityUnits metrics.
Option C is correct because CloudWatch directly exposes the ConsumedReadCapacityUnits and ProvisionedReadCapacityUnits metrics for DynamoDB, which are the exact metrics needed to calculate read capacity utilization. Monitoring these metrics allows the engineer to track how much of the provisioned capacity is being consumed over time, which is the foundation for setting up the desired alert.
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.
- ✗
Enable AWS CloudTrail to log DynamoDB read requests.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail logs API calls, not capacity metrics.
- ✗
Set up an AWS Lambda function to monitor the DynamoDB ReadThrottleEvents metric.
Why it's wrong here
Throttle events indicate already throttled; proactive monitoring is needed.
- ✓
Use CloudWatch to monitor the ConsumedReadCapacityUnits and ProvisionedReadCapacityUnits metrics.
Why this is correct
These metrics are emitted by DynamoDB to CloudWatch.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure DynamoDB to stream all read events to CloudWatch Logs.
Why it's wrong here
DynamoDB does not stream read events to CloudWatch Logs.
- ✓
Create a CloudWatch alarm with a metric math expression that calculates (ConsumedReadCapacityUnits / ProvisionedReadCapacityUnits) and set the threshold to 0.8.
Why this is correct
This alarm will trigger when usage exceeds 80%.
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 metrics (like ReadThrottleEvents) with capacity utilization metrics, leading them to select Option B, which only detects throttling after it happens rather than providing a proactive alert based on capacity consumption.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The ConsumedReadCapacityUnits metric reflects the actual read capacity used, measured in 4 KB read request units (or 1 RCU for strongly consistent reads of items up to 4 KB). The metric math expression (ConsumedReadCapacityUnits / ProvisionedReadCapacityUnits) * 100 yields a utilization percentage; setting a CloudWatch alarm on this expression with a threshold of 0.8 (80%) and a period of 5 consecutive evaluation periods (e.g., 1-minute periods) triggers the alert. A real-world scenario is a DynamoDB table backing a high-traffic API where sudden spikes in read activity (e.g., from a viral event) could cause throttling; this alarm provides proactive warning before throttling begins.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DOP-C02 question test?
Monitoring and Logging — This question tests Monitoring and Logging — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use CloudWatch to monitor the ConsumedReadCapacityUnits and ProvisionedReadCapacityUnits metrics. — Option C is correct because CloudWatch directly exposes the ConsumedReadCapacityUnits and ProvisionedReadCapacityUnits metrics for DynamoDB, which are the exact metrics needed to calculate read capacity utilization. Monitoring these metrics allows the engineer to track how much of the provisioned capacity is being consumed over time, which is the foundation for setting up the desired alert.
What should I do if I get this DOP-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: Jun 24, 2026
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