This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of database security. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 running an RDS for MySQL database and needs to ensure that all connections to the database use SSL encryption. Which configuration step is required?
Set 'require_secure_transport' to ON in the DB parameter group.
This forces all connections to use SSL.
Enable 'Enable SSL' in the RDS console.
Why wrong: Enabling SSL does not force connections to use it.
Set 'rds.force_ssl' to 1 in the DB parameter group.
Why wrong: 'rds.force_ssl' is not a valid MySQL parameter.
Set 'ssl' to 'require' in the DB parameter group.
Why wrong: 'ssl' parameter is for PostgreSQL, not MySQL.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Set 'require_secure_transport' to ON in the DB parameter group.
Option A is correct because setting 'require_secure_transport' to ON in the DB parameter group forces all connections to the RDS for MySQL database to use SSL/TLS encryption. This parameter is supported in MySQL 5.7 and later, and when enabled, the server rejects non-encrypted connections, ensuring compliance with security policies.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Set 'require_secure_transport' to ON in the DB parameter group.
Why this is correct
This forces all connections to use SSL.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Enable 'Enable SSL' in the RDS console.
Why it's wrong here
Enabling SSL does not force connections to use it.
Set 'rds.force_ssl' to 1 in the DB parameter group.
Why it's wrong here
'rds.force_ssl' is not a valid MySQL parameter.
Set 'ssl' to 'require' in the DB parameter group.
Why it's wrong here
'ssl' parameter is for PostgreSQL, not MySQL.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse the MySQL-specific parameter 'require_secure_transport' with the PostgreSQL-specific parameter 'rds.force_ssl', or assume a generic 'Enable SSL' console option exists, leading them to pick incorrect answers.
Detailed technical explanation
The 'require_secure_transport' parameter works by modifying the MySQL server's '--require-secure-transport' startup option, which checks the 'ssl_cipher' and 'have_ssl' status before allowing connections. Under the hood, when enabled, the server rejects connections that do not present a valid SSL certificate or use a non-encrypted protocol, even if the client requests a non-SSL connection. In real-world scenarios, this is critical for compliance with regulations like PCI DSS or HIPAA, where data in transit must be encrypted.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
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FAQ
Database Security — This question tests Database Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Set 'require_secure_transport' to ON in the DB parameter group. — Option A is correct because setting 'require_secure_transport' to ON in the DB parameter group forces all connections to the RDS for MySQL database to use SSL/TLS encryption. This parameter is supported in MySQL 5.7 and later, and when enabled, the server rejects non-encrypted connections, ensuring compliance with security policies.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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