- A
The DynamoDB table is experiencing hot partitions due to uneven access patterns.
Correct. Hot partitions cause throttling even with on-demand capacity, as per-partition limits remain.
- B
The Lambda function's timeout is too short, causing the function to retry and overload DynamoDB.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Timeout of 1 minute is standard and does not cause DynamoDB throttling.
- C
The Lambda function's reserved concurrency is too high, causing too many concurrent invocations.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Reserved concurrency of 100 for 10 shards is appropriate and does not exceed DynamoDB limits.
- D
The Kinesis stream's batch size is too large, causing the Lambda function to write too many records at once.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Batch size affects records per invocation but does not directly cause throttling unless combined with hot keys.
DOP-C02 DynamoDB on-demand capacity Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring and logging. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. A key principle to apply: dynamoDB on-demand capacity. 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 uses AWS Lambda functions to process streaming data from Amazon Kinesis Data Streams. The Lambda function processes records in batches and writes the results to an Amazon DynamoDB table. Recently, the operations team noticed that the Lambda function is experiencing a high number of throttling errors (HTTP 400) when writing to DynamoDB. The DynamoDB table has on-demand capacity mode enabled. The CloudWatch metrics show that the DynamoDB consumed write capacity is well below the provisioned limits, but the Lambda function's error rate is increasing. The Lambda function's reserved concurrency is set to 100, and the function's timeout is 1 minute. The Kinesis stream has 10 shards. What is the MOST likely cause of the throttling errors?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
The DynamoDB table is experiencing hot partitions due to uneven access patterns.
Option A is correct because even with on-demand capacity, DynamoDB has per-partition throughput limits. When many writes target the same partition key (hot partition), the partition can throttle requests, resulting in HTTP 400 errors. This is consistent with the CloudWatch metrics showing overall consumed write capacity below provisioned limits but increasing error rates. Option B is incorrect because a 1-minute timeout is standard and does not directly cause DynamoDB throttling. Option C is incorrect because reserved concurrency of 100 is reasonable for a 10-shard stream and does not exceed DynamoDB's overall capacity. Option D is incorrect because the batch size affects how many records are processed per invocation but does not cause DynamoDB throttling unless combined with hot partitions.
Key principle: DynamoDB on-demand capacity
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
The DynamoDB table is experiencing hot partitions due to uneven access patterns.
Why this is correct
Correct. Hot partitions cause throttling even with on-demand capacity, as per-partition limits remain.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
DynamoDB on-demand capacity
- ✗
The Lambda function's timeout is too short, causing the function to retry and overload DynamoDB.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Timeout of 1 minute is standard and does not cause DynamoDB throttling.
- ✗
The Lambda function's reserved concurrency is too high, causing too many concurrent invocations.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Reserved concurrency of 100 for 10 shards is appropriate and does not exceed DynamoDB limits.
- ✗
The Kinesis stream's batch size is too large, causing the Lambda function to write too many records at once.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Batch size affects records per invocation but does not directly cause throttling unless combined with hot keys.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common trap is assuming on-demand capacity eliminates all throttling. However, on-demand only handles overall capacity; individual partitions can still throttle if they exceed 3000 RCU or 1000 WCU per second.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- DynamoDB on-demand capacity
- Hot partition
- Lambda reserved concurrency
- Kinesis Data Streams shard
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
DynamoDB on-demand capacity
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.
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review dynamoDB on-demand capacity, then practise related DOP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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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 — DynamoDB on-demand capacity.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The DynamoDB table is experiencing hot partitions due to uneven access patterns. — Option A is correct because even with on-demand capacity, DynamoDB has per-partition throughput limits. When many writes target the same partition key (hot partition), the partition can throttle requests, resulting in HTTP 400 errors. This is consistent with the CloudWatch metrics showing overall consumed write capacity below provisioned limits but increasing error rates. Option B is incorrect because a 1-minute timeout is standard and does not directly cause DynamoDB throttling. Option C is incorrect because reserved concurrency of 100 is reasonable for a 10-shard stream and does not exceed DynamoDB's overall capacity. Option D is incorrect because the batch size affects how many records are processed per invocation but does not cause DynamoDB throttling unless combined with hot partitions.
What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?
Review dynamoDB on-demand capacity, then practise related DOP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
DynamoDB on-demand capacity
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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