DBS-C01 Database Security Practice Question
A company has an Amazon RDS for MySQL DB instance that is publicly accessible. The security team wants to restrict access to only specific IP addresses. Which configuration should be used?
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
✓
Configure a security group associated with the RDS instance to allow inbound traffic only from the specific IP addresses.
A security group associated with the RDS instance can be configured to restrict inbound traffic to specific IP addresses, even if the instance is publicly accessible. Option A is incorrect because a VPC endpoint is used for private connectivity from within a VPC, not for restricting public access. Option B is incorrect because IAM policies control permissions for API actions, not network-level access. Option D is incorrect because network ACLs are stateless and applied at the subnet level, and while they can filter IP traffic, security groups are the more appropriate and granular control for individual RDS instances.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create a VPC endpoint for RDS and attach a policy that allows only the specific IP addresses.
Why it's wrong here
VPC endpoints are for private connectivity, not for restricting public access.
- ✗
Use an IAM policy with a condition that restricts the source IP address.
Why it's wrong here
IAM policies control who can make API calls, not network access to the database.
- ✓
Configure a security group associated with the RDS instance to allow inbound traffic only from the specific IP addresses.
Why this is correct
Security groups can restrict inbound traffic by IP address.
- ✗
Configure a network ACL to allow inbound traffic from the specific IP addresses.
Why it's wrong here
NACLs are subnet-level and do not apply to the RDS instance directly.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on DBS-C01
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company has an Amazon RDS for Oracle DB instance that is publicly accessible. They want to restrict access to only a specific CIDR block. Which two actions must be taken together?
medium- ✓ A.Modify the VPC security group to allow inbound traffic on the database port from the specific CIDR, and ensure the DB instance is publicly accessible with the correct security group.
- B.Modify the DB subnet group to include only subnets from the allowed CIDR.
- C.Add a rule to the network ACL to allow inbound traffic from the CIDR.
- D.Set the rds.force_ssl parameter to force encrypted connections from the allowed CIDR.
Why A: You must modify the VPC security group to allow inbound traffic on the database port from the specific CIDR, and the DB instance must be configured as publicly accessible with that security group attached. Option B is wrong because the DB subnet group determines which subnets the instance can be deployed in, not inbound access restrictions. Option C is wrong because network ACLs operate at the subnet level and are less granular; security groups are the appropriate mechanism for RDS access control. Option D is wrong because the rds.force_ssl parameter enforces encrypted connections but does not restrict by source IP or CIDR.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This DBS-C01 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 DBS-C01 exam.