DBS-C01 Database Security Practice Question
A company is using Amazon Aurora MySQL-Compatible Edition. The security team wants to restrict access to the database so that only specific applications running on Amazon EC2 instances can connect. The EC2 instances are in the same VPC as the Aurora cluster. Which combination of steps should be taken to enforce this restriction?
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 the Aurora cluster's security group to allow inbound traffic from the EC2 instances' security group.
Configuring the Aurora cluster's security group to allow inbound traffic from the EC2 instances' security group is the correct approach because security groups can reference other security groups as a source, enabling dynamic, instance-level access control without managing individual IP addresses. Option A is incorrect because IAM database authentication manages user authentication at the database level, not network access. Option B is incorrect because the DB subnet group defines the subnets where the Aurora cluster can be placed, not traffic filtering rules. Option C is incorrect because network ACLs are stateless and operate at the subnet boundary, making them less granular and harder to manage for instance-specific access compared to security group references.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Enable IAM database authentication and create database users for each application.
Why it's wrong here
This controls authentication, not network access.
- ✗
Modify the DB subnet group to include only subnets where the EC2 instances reside.
Why it's wrong here
Subnet group does not restrict access at the instance level.
- ✗
Use a network ACL to allow traffic only from the EC2 instances' IP addresses.
Why it's wrong here
NACLs are stateless and less flexible than security groups.
- ✓
Configure the Aurora cluster's security group to allow inbound traffic from the EC2 instances' security group.
Why this is correct
Security group rules can reference other security groups.
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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.