DBS-C01 Database Security Practice Question
A company is running an Amazon RDS for MySQL DB instance in a VPC. The security team requires that all connections to the database use SSL/TLS. The DBA has enabled 'require_secure_transport' parameter in the DB parameter group. However, after applying the change and rebooting, some applications that were previously connecting successfully are now failing. What is the most likely cause?
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
✓
The application is not configured to connect using SSL/TLS.
Enabling 'require_secure_transport' in the MySQL parameter group forces the server to accept only SSL/TLS connections. Applications that are not configured with SSL will be rejected, causing them to fail after this change. Option A is incorrect because the security group inbound rule missing would have prevented connections entirely, not just after this change. Option B is incorrect because the SSL option in the option group is separate from the 'require_secure_transport' parameter; the parameter group controls this setting. Option D is incorrect because the DB subnet group determines network placement, not SSL enforcement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The security group inbound rule for the database port is missing.
Why it's wrong here
The security group controls network access, not SSL enforcement. The issue is about SSL, not network access.
- ✗
The option group does not have the SSL option enabled.
Why it's wrong here
The option group is irrelevant for this setting. The require_secure_transport parameter is in the DB parameter group, not the option group.
- ✓
The application is not configured to connect using SSL/TLS.
Why this is correct
Enabling require_secure_transport forces the server to accept only SSL connections. If the application does not use SSL, the connection will be rejected.
- ✗
The DB subnet group does not include the application's subnet.
Why it's wrong here
The DB subnet group does not affect SSL enforcement. It controls which subnets the DB instance can be placed in, not connection encryption.
Visual reference
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This DBS-C01 question is part of Courseiva's 1,663-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.