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Question 882 of 1,730

Database Security →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is to enable encryption at rest when launching the RDS instance and configure the DB parameter group to require SSL connections. This is correct because Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL only supports encryption at rest as a one-time setting at launch—it cannot be enabled on an existing instance—while encryption in transit is enforced by setting `rds.force_ssl=1` in the DB parameter group, which forces all client connections to use SSL/TLS. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of the immutable nature of RDS encryption at rest and the parameter-group-based control for in-transit encryption, a common trap being that you might think you can modify encryption after creation or that SSL is enabled by default. A helpful memory tip is “Launch locks at rest, SSL sets the test”—meaning encryption at rest is locked in at launch, and SSL is set via the parameter group to secure data in transit.

DBS-C01 Database Security Practice Question

This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of database security. 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 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.)

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.

Question 1easymultiple choice

Read the full NAT/PAT explanation →

A
Use client-side encryption for data before sending to RDS, and enable encryption at rest after the instance is created.
Why wrong: Client-side encryption does not encrypt the network transport; also, encryption at rest cannot be enabled after creation without a snapshot.
B
Enable encryption at rest when launching the RDS instance, and configure the DB parameter group to require SSL connections.
Encryption at rest is enabled at creation; SSL enforcement ensures encryption in transit.
C
Launch the RDS instance without encryption, then enable encryption at rest using the AWS Console.
Why wrong: Encryption at rest can only be enabled at launch or by restoring an encrypted snapshot.
D
Use AWS KMS to encrypt the connection between the application and RDS.
Why wrong: KMS is for key management, not for encrypting connections; SSL/TLS should be used for in-transit encryption.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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 when launching the RDS instance, and configure the DB parameter group to require SSL connections.

Option B is correct because 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.

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.

✗
Use client-side encryption for data before sending to RDS, and enable encryption at rest after the instance is created.
Why it's wrong here
Client-side encryption does not encrypt the network transport; also, encryption at rest cannot be enabled after creation without a snapshot.
✓
Enable encryption at rest when launching the RDS instance, and configure the DB parameter group to require SSL connections.
Why this is correct
Encryption at rest is enabled at creation; SSL enforcement ensures encryption in transit.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Launch the RDS instance without encryption, then enable encryption at rest using the AWS Console.
Why it's wrong here
Encryption at rest can only be enabled at launch or by restoring an encrypted snapshot.
✗
Use AWS KMS to encrypt the connection between the application and RDS.
Why it's wrong here
KMS is for key management, not for encrypting connections; SSL/TLS should be used for in-transit encryption.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates assume encryption at rest can be enabled after launch (like modifying an EBS volume) or that KMS alone handles in-transit encryption, but RDS requires upfront planning for at-rest encryption and explicit SSL configuration for transit.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Under the hood, RDS encryption at rest uses AWS KMS to encrypt the underlying EBS volumes and automated backups with AES-256. For in-transit encryption, PostgreSQL uses SSL/TLS (TLS 1.2+), and the `rds.force_ssl` parameter in the DB parameter group rejects non-SSL connections. A real-world scenario is a financial application requiring PCI DSS compliance, where both encryption types are mandatory.

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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.

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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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this DBS-C01 question test?

Database Security — This question tests Database Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Enable encryption at rest when launching the RDS instance, and configure the DB parameter group to require SSL connections. — Option B is correct because 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.

What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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Same concept, more angles

1 more ways 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 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?

medium

A.Use a client-side encryption library to encrypt data before sending to the database.
B.Enable encryption for automated backups separately.
✓ C.Enable encryption at rest by specifying a KMS key when creating the DB instance.
D.Create an encrypted read replica and promote it to master.
✓ E.Set the parameter rds.force_ssl to 1 in the DB parameter group.

Why C: Options A and D are correct. To encrypt data at rest, you must enable encryption when creating the DB instance (Option A). To encrypt data in transit, you must enforce SSL/TLS connections by setting the parameter rds.force_ssl to 1 (Option D). Option B is wrong because using a client-side encryption library is not necessary if you use RDS encryption and SSL. Option C is wrong because RDS automatically encrypts automated backups if the instance is encrypted. Option E is wrong because enabling encryption on a read replica does not encrypt the master.

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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.