- A
Encrypting the physical disk drives in the AWS data center that host the database.
Why wrong: This is an AWS responsibility under the shared responsibility model. AWS manages the physical security of data centers and encryption of physical media.
- B
Enabling encryption at rest for the Amazon RDS instance and configuring SSL for connections.
This is the customer's responsibility. The customer must choose to enable encryption at rest when creating or modifying the RDS instance and must configure SSL/TLS settings to ensure data in transit is encrypted. AWS provides the underlying infrastructure, but the customer controls the encryption settings.
- C
Applying operating system patches to the Amazon RDS database engine.
Why wrong: AWS manages the operating system and database engine patching for Amazon RDS. The customer does not have OS-level access.
- D
Configuring network ACLs to block all traffic except from authorized sources.
Why wrong: Configuring network ACLs is a customer responsibility, but it addresses network access control, not data encryption. The question specifically asks about encryption at rest and in transit, so this is not the best answer.
Quick Answer
The answer is enabling encryption at rest for the Amazon RDS instance and configuring SSL for connections. This is correct because under the shared responsibility model RDS encryption at rest and in transit, AWS secures the physical infrastructure and the underlying database service, but the customer must actively configure and manage data-level encryption. For encryption at rest, you enable it using AWS KMS when creating the RDS instance, and for encryption in transit, you configure SSL/TLS on the client side to protect data moving between your application and the database. On the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner CLF-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of the customer’s “security in the cloud” duties versus AWS’s “security of the cloud” duties—a common trap is assuming AWS automatically encrypts your data. Remember the memory tip: “AWS locks the room, but you lock the file cabinet”—you must flip the switch for encryption and enforce SSL connections to meet HIPAA compliance.
CLF-C02 Security and Compliance Practice Question
This CLF-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. 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.
A healthcare startup is migrating its patient records database to Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL. The company must comply with HIPAA and ensure that all protected health information (PHI) is encrypted at rest and in transit. Which task is the company responsible for under the AWS shared responsibility model?
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
Enabling encryption at rest for the Amazon RDS instance and configuring SSL for connections.
Under the AWS shared responsibility model, the customer is responsible for encryption in transit and at rest for the data they store in AWS services. For Amazon RDS, enabling encryption at rest (via AWS KMS) and configuring SSL/TLS for client connections are customer-side tasks. AWS handles the physical security of data centers and the underlying infrastructure, but the customer must explicitly enable these encryption features to meet HIPAA compliance.
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.
- ✗
Encrypting the physical disk drives in the AWS data center that host the database.
Why it's wrong here
This is an AWS responsibility under the shared responsibility model. AWS manages the physical security of data centers and encryption of physical media.
- ✓
Enabling encryption at rest for the Amazon RDS instance and configuring SSL for connections.
Why this is correct
This is the customer's responsibility. The customer must choose to enable encryption at rest when creating or modifying the RDS instance and must configure SSL/TLS settings to ensure data in transit is encrypted. AWS provides the underlying infrastructure, but the customer controls the encryption settings.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Applying operating system patches to the Amazon RDS database engine.
Why it's wrong here
AWS manages the operating system and database engine patching for Amazon RDS. The customer does not have OS-level access.
- ✗
Configuring network ACLs to block all traffic except from authorized sources.
Why it's wrong here
Configuring network ACLs is a customer responsibility, but it addresses network access control, not data encryption. The question specifically asks about encryption at rest and in transit, so this is not the best answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse customer-managed patching (Option C) with AWS-managed patching in RDS, or they assume network ACLs (Option D) satisfy encryption requirements, when the question specifically targets encryption responsibilities under HIPAA.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL supports encryption at rest using AWS KMS-managed keys, which encrypt the underlying storage, automated backups, read replicas, and snapshots. For encryption in transit, you must enforce SSL/TLS by setting the `rds.force_ssl` parameter to 1 in the DB parameter group and requiring clients to connect using the `sslmode=require` or `verify-full` option. A common subtlety is that enabling encryption at rest on an existing RDS instance requires a snapshot restore to an encrypted instance, as you cannot encrypt an already-provisioned unencrypted instance directly.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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.
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Security and Compliance — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CLF-C02 question test?
Security and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enabling encryption at rest for the Amazon RDS instance and configuring SSL for connections. — Under the AWS shared responsibility model, the customer is responsible for encryption in transit and at rest for the data they store in AWS services. For Amazon RDS, enabling encryption at rest (via AWS KMS) and configuring SSL/TLS for client connections are customer-side tasks. AWS handles the physical security of data centers and the underlying infrastructure, but the customer must explicitly enable these encryption features to meet HIPAA compliance.
What should I do if I get this CLF-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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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This CLF-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 CLF-C02 exam.
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