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DBS-C01 rds.force_ssl Practice Question
A company is using Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL. The security team wants to ensure that all connections to the database are encrypted in transit. Currently, applications connect using the PostgreSQL native encryption (SSL/TLS). What is the MOST secure way to enforce encrypted connections?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse the parameter 'require_ssl' (common in on-premises PostgreSQL) with the RDS-specific parameter 'rds.force_ssl'.
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 the 'rds.force_ssl' parameter in the DB parameter group and restart the instance.
In Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL, the parameter to enforce SSL is 'rds.force_ssl' (often abbreviated as 'force_ssl'). Setting this parameter to 1 in the DB parameter group and rebooting the instance forces all connections to use SSL/TLS. Option A is incorrect because security groups control network access but do not enforce encryption. Option C is incorrect because changing the port only obscures the port number, not enforce encryption. Option D is incorrect because 'require_ssl' is not a valid parameter in RDS PostgreSQL; the correct parameter is 'rds.force_ssl'.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Configure the security group to only allow traffic on port 5432 from trusted IP addresses.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Security groups control network access based on IP and port, but they do not enforce encryption; they allow or deny traffic regardless of encryption.
- ✓
Enable the 'rds.force_ssl' parameter in the DB parameter group and restart the instance.
Why this is correct
Correct. Setting 'rds.force_ssl' (commonly referred to as 'force_ssl') to 1 in the DB parameter group and rebooting enforces SSL connections.
- ✗
Use a custom database port that is not commonly used, such as 5433, to avoid unencrypted traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Changing the database port to an obscure number does not enforce encryption; it only hides the port.
- ✗
Modify the DB parameter group to set 'ssl' to 'on' and 'require_ssl' to 'on', then reboot the instance.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. 'require_ssl' is not a valid parameter in Amazon RDS PostgreSQL. The correct parameter is 'rds.force_ssl'. Setting 'ssl' to 'on' enables SSL support but does not enforce it.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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