- A
Create an IAM role with a policy that allows rds:Connect and attach it to the RDS instance.
Why wrong: The correct action is rds-db:connect, and the IAM role is assumed by the user, not the RDS instance.
- B
Create a database user with a password and attach an IAM role that allows rds-db:connect to the database user.
Why wrong: The database user must be created with AWSAuthenticationPlugin, not with a password, and IAM roles are attached to users, not database users.
- C
Enable SSL on the RDS instance and create an IAM policy that allows rds:Connect.
Why wrong: IAM database authentication does not require SSL, and the action is rds-db:connect, not rds:Connect.
- D
Create an IAM policy that allows the rds-db:connect action and map the IAM role to a database user created with the AWSAuthenticationPlugin.
This is the correct procedure for IAM database authentication with RDS MySQL.
DBS-C01 Database Security Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of database security. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 using Amazon RDS for MySQL with encryption at rest enabled. The security team requires that all access to the database be authenticated using IAM database authentication. Which combination of steps must the company take to meet this requirement?
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
Create an IAM policy that allows the rds-db:connect action and map the IAM role to a database user created with the AWSAuthenticationPlugin.
Option C is correct because IAM database authentication for RDS MySQL requires creating an IAM role with a policy that allows the rds-db:connect action, then mapping that role to a database user using the CREATE USER statement with the AWSAuthenticationPlugin. Option A is wrong because SSL is not required for IAM auth, though recommended. Option B is wrong because the policy must include rds-db:connect, not rds:connect. Option D is wrong because the database user must be created with AWSAuthenticationPlugin, not with a password.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create an IAM role with a policy that allows rds:Connect and attach it to the RDS instance.
Why it's wrong here
The correct action is rds-db:connect, and the IAM role is assumed by the user, not the RDS instance.
- ✗
Create a database user with a password and attach an IAM role that allows rds-db:connect to the database user.
Why it's wrong here
The database user must be created with AWSAuthenticationPlugin, not with a password, and IAM roles are attached to users, not database users.
- ✗
Enable SSL on the RDS instance and create an IAM policy that allows rds:Connect.
Why it's wrong here
IAM database authentication does not require SSL, and the action is rds-db:connect, not rds:Connect.
- ✓
Create an IAM policy that allows the rds-db:connect action and map the IAM role to a database user created with the AWSAuthenticationPlugin.
Why this is correct
This is the correct procedure for IAM database authentication with RDS MySQL.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DBS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Database Security — This question tests Database Security — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create an IAM policy that allows the rds-db:connect action and map the IAM role to a database user created with the AWSAuthenticationPlugin. — Option C is correct because IAM database authentication for RDS MySQL requires creating an IAM role with a policy that allows the rds-db:connect action, then mapping that role to a database user using the CREATE USER statement with the AWSAuthenticationPlugin. Option A is wrong because SSL is not required for IAM auth, though recommended. Option B is wrong because the policy must include rds-db:connect, not rds:connect. Option D is wrong because the database user must be created with AWSAuthenticationPlugin, not with a password.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DBS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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.
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