The answer is DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX), increasing provisioned read capacity units, and global tables. DAX is correct because it acts as an in-memory cache that reduces DynamoDB read latency from milliseconds to microseconds by offloading frequently accessed items from the table, directly improving performance without consuming read capacity. Increasing provisioned read capacity units also helps by allocating more resources to handle higher read throughput, while global tables reduce latency for geographically distributed users by replicating data across AWS Regions for local reads. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of performance optimization strategies, often presenting DAX as a cost-effective alternative to simply scaling capacity, with a common trap being to overlook global tables for multi-region workloads. Remember the mnemonic “DIG” for DAX, Increased capacity, and Global tables to recall the three features that directly combat high read latency.
SOA-C02 Cost and Performance Optimization Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of cost and performance optimization. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
Which THREE AWS features can be used to improve the performance of an Amazon DynamoDB table that is experiencing high read latency? (Choose THREE.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX).
DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) is a fully managed, highly available, in-memory cache that can reduce DynamoDB response times from milliseconds to microseconds. By caching frequently read items, DAX offloads read requests from the underlying table, directly addressing high read latency without requiring additional read capacity units or table modifications.
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 DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX).
Why this is correct
In-memory caching reduces read latency.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Use DynamoDB global tables.
Why this is correct
Allows reads from local replica, reducing latency for global users.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable Auto Scaling for read capacity.
Why it's wrong here
Auto Scaling adjusts capacity but may not reduce latency if throttling is not the issue.
✗
Use Time to Live (TTL) to delete old items.
Why it's wrong here
TTL removes data, does not improve read latency.
✓
Increase the provisioned read capacity units.
Why this is correct
More read capacity reduces throttling and latency.
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 Auto Scaling (which prevents throttling) with a performance improvement feature, but Auto Scaling does not reduce latency for individual read requests—it only ensures sufficient capacity to avoid throttling.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DAX maintains a write-through cache that is eventually consistent with the DynamoDB table, using a cluster of nodes that can be scaled independently. For read-heavy workloads with repeated access patterns (e.g., session data, leaderboards), DAX can achieve single-digit microsecond latency by serving reads from memory, bypassing the storage layer entirely. A common real-world scenario is a gaming application where player profiles are read frequently; DAX caches these profiles, reducing the load on the table and improving user experience.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Cost and Performance Optimization — This question tests Cost and Performance Optimization — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX). — DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) is a fully managed, highly available, in-memory cache that can reduce DynamoDB response times from milliseconds to microseconds. By caching frequently read items, DAX offloads read requests from the underlying table, directly addressing high read latency without requiring additional read capacity units or table modifications.
What should I do if I get this SOA-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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Question Discussion
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