- A
Modify the Lambda function to split the large item into multiple smaller items before writing to DynamoDB.
DynamoDB has a 400 KB item size limit; splitting the item avoids the timeout.
- B
Configure the Lambda function to write to an SQS queue first, then have another Lambda process the queue.
Why wrong: This adds complexity but does not address the DynamoDB item size limitation.
- C
Mount an EFS file system to the Lambda function and write the large item to a file instead of DynamoDB.
Why wrong: The requirement is to store in DynamoDB; using EFS changes the architecture unnecessarily.
- D
Increase the Lambda function's timeout to 5 minutes and memory to 1024 MB.
Why wrong: The timeout may still occur if the item size exceeds DynamoDB's limit; increasing resources may not address the root cause.
Lambda Timeout on DynamoDB Put_item
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of incident and event response. 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 uses AWS Lambda functions that are triggered by S3 events (object creation). The Lambda function processes the file and stores results in DynamoDB. Recently, the function started timing out after 15 seconds, causing some files to not be processed. The average file size has increased significantly. The DevOps engineer increases the Lambda function's timeout to 30 seconds and the memory to 512 MB, but the function still times out for large files. The CloudWatch Logs show that the timeout occurs during the 'dynamodb.put_item' call for a large item. The DynamoDB table's write capacity is set to on-demand, and there are no throttling errors. What should the engineer do to resolve the timeout issue?
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
Modify the Lambda function to split the large item into multiple smaller items before writing to DynamoDB.
Option A is correct because the DynamoDB put_item API call is timing out due to the item size exceeding the 400 KB limit. Splitting the large item into multiple smaller items reduces the payload per request, allowing the call to complete within the timeout. Option B is incorrect because adding an SQS queue does not address the root cause of the large item size; the downstream Lambda would still face the same timeout issue. Option C is incorrect because EFS is a file storage service and is not relevant to DynamoDB API timeouts. Option D is incorrect because increasing the timeout and memory does not resolve the DynamoDB API call timeout caused by exceeding the item size limit.
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.
- ✓
Modify the Lambda function to split the large item into multiple smaller items before writing to DynamoDB.
Why this is correct
DynamoDB has a 400 KB item size limit; splitting the item avoids the timeout.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure the Lambda function to write to an SQS queue first, then have another Lambda process the queue.
Why it's wrong here
This adds complexity but does not address the DynamoDB item size limitation.
- ✗
Mount an EFS file system to the Lambda function and write the large item to a file instead of DynamoDB.
Why it's wrong here
The requirement is to store in DynamoDB; using EFS changes the architecture unnecessarily.
- ✗
Increase the Lambda function's timeout to 5 minutes and memory to 1024 MB.
Why it's wrong here
The timeout may still occur if the item size exceeds DynamoDB's limit; increasing resources may not address the root cause.
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 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.
Visual reference
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which DOP-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.
- →
Incident and Event Response — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Incident and Event Response practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All DOP-C02 questions
1,750 questions across all exam domains
- →
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
DOP-C02 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related DOP-C02 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Configuration Management and IaC practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to Configuration Management and IaC.
Resilient Cloud Solutions practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to Resilient Cloud Solutions.
Monitoring and Logging practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to Monitoring and Logging.
Incident and Event Response practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to Incident and Event Response.
Security and Compliance practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to Security and Compliance.
SDLC Automation practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to SDLC Automation.
DOP-C02 fundamentals practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to DOP-C02 fundamentals.
DOP-C02 scenario practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to DOP-C02 scenario.
DOP-C02 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to DOP-C02 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free DOP-C02 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DOP-C02 question test?
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: Modify the Lambda function to split the large item into multiple smaller items before writing to DynamoDB. — Option A is correct because the DynamoDB put_item API call is timing out due to the item size exceeding the 400 KB limit. Splitting the large item into multiple smaller items reduces the payload per request, allowing the call to complete within the timeout. Option B is incorrect because adding an SQS queue does not address the root cause of the large item size; the downstream Lambda would still face the same timeout issue. Option C is incorrect because EFS is a file storage service and is not relevant to DynamoDB API timeouts. Option D is incorrect because increasing the timeout and memory does not resolve the DynamoDB API call timeout caused by exceeding the item size limit.
What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which DOP-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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More DOP-C02 practice questions
- A company uses AWS CodePipeline with a multi-branch strategy. A new feature branch triggers a pipeline that runs unit te…
- A development team uses AWS CodeBuild to compile a Java application and run unit tests. The build takes 30 minutes, but…
- A company uses AWS CodePipeline with multiple stages: Source (Amazon S3), Build (AWS CodeBuild), and Deploy (AWS CodeDep…
- A company uses AWS CodeCommit for source control. Developers frequently push large binary files (e.g., compiled JARs) to…
- A company runs a Stateful application on EC2 that requires sticky sessions. They use an ALB with duration-based stickine…
- An organization uses AWS CodePipeline to orchestrate deployments to multiple environments (dev, test, prod). Each enviro…
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This DOP-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 DOP-C02 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.