The correct actions are to implement DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) and use application-level retry logic with exponential backoff. DAX acts as an in-memory cache that absorbs read-heavy traffic spikes by serving frequently accessed data at microsecond latency, which offloads read capacity units from the main table and prevents throttling without permanently increasing provisioned capacity. Retry logic with exponential backoff is essential because it allows the application to gracefully handle the inevitable throttling errors that occur during sudden bursts, automatically retrying failed requests with increasing delays to avoid overwhelming the database further. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to balance performance with cost control under unpredictable load—a common trap is choosing to simply increase provisioned capacity, which drives up costs unnecessarily. Remember the mnemonic “Cache and Retry, Don’t Buy” to recall that DAX caches reads while exponential backoff handles write retries, keeping costs low during spikes.
DOP-C02 Incident and Event Response Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of incident and event response. 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.
An e-commerce platform uses Amazon DynamoDB as its primary database. During a flash sale, the application experiences throttling errors. The operations team needs to implement a solution to handle sudden traffic spikes while keeping costs under control. Which TWO actions should the team take? (Choose two.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Implement DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) to cache read-intensive data.
Option C is correct because DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) is an in-memory cache that reduces read latency from milliseconds to microseconds, offloading read requests from the main DynamoDB table. During a flash sale, caching read-intensive data (e.g., product details) with DAX reduces the number of read capacity units consumed, helping to avoid throttling while keeping costs under control by not requiring a permanent increase in provisioned capacity.
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 the read and write capacity units manually before the sale.
Why it's wrong here
Manual adjustment is not dynamic and may over-provision.
✗
Switch from on-demand to provisioned capacity with auto scaling.
Why it's wrong here
On-demand is better for unpredictable spikes; provisioned may throttle.
✓
Implement DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) to cache read-intensive data.
Why this is correct
DAX reduces read traffic to the table.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Use application-level retry logic with exponential backoff to handle throttling gracefully.
Why this is correct
Exponential backoff reduces repeated throttling.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable DynamoDB Streams and replicate data to a read replica.
Why it's wrong here
DynamoDB does not have read replicas; streams are for change capture.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse DynamoDB Streams with read replicas, or assume that provisioned capacity with auto scaling is always cost-effective for spikes, when in fact on-demand capacity is designed for unpredictable traffic and avoids the cold-start throttling risk of auto scaling.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DAX acts as a write-through cache that maintains strong consistency for cached items by invalidating entries on writes, and it can handle millions of requests per second with microsecond latency. Under the hood, DAX uses a cluster of nodes with a primary node handling writes and replicas for read scaling, and it integrates with DynamoDB's API so applications require minimal code changes. In a flash sale scenario, DAX is particularly effective for read-heavy workloads like product catalog lookups, but it does not help with write throttling, which would require strategies like write sharding or using on-demand capacity.
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 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.
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.
Incident and Event Response — This question tests Incident and Event Response — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Implement DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) to cache read-intensive data. — Option C is correct because DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) is an in-memory cache that reduces read latency from milliseconds to microseconds, offloading read requests from the main DynamoDB table. During a flash sale, caching read-intensive data (e.g., product details) with DAX reduces the number of read capacity units consumed, helping to avoid throttling while keeping costs under control by not requiring a permanent increase in provisioned capacity.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
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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