DBS-C01 Database Security Practice Question
A company is deploying a new application on Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL. The security policy requires that all data be encrypted at rest and in transit. Which TWO actions should the company take to meet these requirements?
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
✓
Enable encryption at rest by specifying a KMS key when creating the DB instance.
To encrypt data at rest, you must enable encryption when creating the DB instance by specifying a KMS key (Option C). RDS automatically encrypts automated backups for encrypted instances, so Option B is unnecessary. To encrypt data in transit, you must enforce SSL/TLS connections by setting the parameter rds.force_ssl to 1 in the DB parameter group (Option E). Option A is incorrect because client-side encryption is not required when using RDS encryption and SSL; the requirement is to use RDS features. Option D is incorrect because creating an encrypted read replica does not encrypt the original master instance; you need to enable encryption on the master from the start.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use a client-side encryption library to encrypt data before sending to the database.
Why it's wrong here
This is not required because RDS provides encryption at rest and in transit.
- ✗
Enable encryption for automated backups separately.
Why it's wrong here
Automated backups are encrypted if the instance is encrypted; no separate action needed.
- ✓
Enable encryption at rest by specifying a KMS key when creating the DB instance.
Why this is correct
This encrypts the data at rest.
- ✗
Create an encrypted read replica and promote it to master.
Why it's wrong here
This does not encrypt the original master instance.
- ✓
Set the parameter rds.force_ssl to 1 in the DB parameter group.
Why this is correct
This enforces SSL connections for data in transit.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every DBS-C01 question from scratch — 1,663 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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 is designing a multi-tier application that uses Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL. The application must encrypt data at rest and in transit. Which combination of steps should be taken to meet these requirements? (Choose the single best answer.)
easy- A.Use client-side encryption for data before sending to RDS, and enable encryption at rest after the instance is created.
- ✓ B.Enable encryption at rest when launching the RDS instance, and configure the DB parameter group to require SSL connections.
- C.Launch the RDS instance without encryption, then enable encryption at rest using the AWS Console.
- D.Use AWS KMS to encrypt the connection between the application and RDS.
Why B: Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL supports encryption at rest only when enabled at instance launch, and SSL/TLS encryption in transit is enforced by configuring the DB parameter group to require SSL connections (e.g., setting `rds.force_ssl=1`). Encryption at rest cannot be added after creation, and SSL ensures data is encrypted between the application and the database.
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.