The answer is to enable DynamoDB auto scaling for the table to automatically adjust read capacity based on demand. This is correct because auto scaling dynamically modifies provisioned throughput in response to actual traffic patterns, directly resolving the ProvisionedThroughputExceededException during bursty streaming data ingestion without manual intervention or data loss. On the AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty MLS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to handle variable throughput in real-time data pipelines—a common trap is choosing to increase capacity units statically, which wastes cost and still risks under-provisioning during unexpected spikes. Remember that for streaming workloads with unpredictable bursts, auto scaling is the serverless-native fix, while options like SQS or SNS address different failure modes entirely. Memory tip: think “auto scale for variable trails” to link DynamoDB auto scaling with streaming data bursts.
MLS-C01 Data Engineering Practice Question
This MLS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data engineering. 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 is streaming real-time sensor data from IoT devices to Amazon Kinesis Data Streams. The data is then consumed by an AWS Lambda function that enriches the records with metadata from an Amazon DynamoDB table and writes the results to an Amazon S3 bucket. Recently, the Lambda function has been failing with 'ProvisionedThroughputExceededException' errors from DynamoDB. The data volume is variable, with occasional bursts. Which solution should a data engineer implement to resolve this issue without losing data?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable DynamoDB auto scaling for the table to automatically adjust read capacity based on demand.
Option B is correct because enabling DynamoDB auto scaling dynamically adjusts read/write capacity based on traffic patterns, handling bursts without manual intervention. Option A (increasing read capacity units) is costly and may not handle all peaks. Option C (SQS) introduces latency and does not address the DynamoDB throttling directly. Option D (SNS) is for push notifications, not for resolving throughput issues.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 DynamoDB table's provisioned read capacity units to a high static value.
Why it's wrong here
Static high capacity is costly and may still be exceeded during extreme bursts.
✗
Use an Amazon SQS queue to buffer the Lambda requests before querying DynamoDB.
Why it's wrong here
Buffering with SQS adds latency and does not prevent DynamoDB throttling if the requests are still bursty.
✓
Enable DynamoDB auto scaling for the table to automatically adjust read capacity based on demand.
Why this is correct
Auto scaling adjusts capacity dynamically to handle bursts without manual intervention.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Configure an Amazon SNS topic to throttle the data stream before it reaches Lambda.
Why it's wrong here
SNS is for pub/sub messaging, not for throttling or buffering data streams.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related MLS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Data Engineering — This question tests Data Engineering — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable DynamoDB auto scaling for the table to automatically adjust read capacity based on demand. — Option B is correct because enabling DynamoDB auto scaling dynamically adjusts read/write capacity based on traffic patterns, handling bursts without manual intervention. Option A (increasing read capacity units) is costly and may not handle all peaks. Option C (SQS) introduces latency and does not address the DynamoDB throttling directly. Option D (SNS) is for push notifications, not for resolving throughput issues.
What should I do if I get this MLS-C01 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related MLS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Question Discussion
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