DBS-C01 Database Security Practice Question
A company is using Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL with a read replica. The security team wants to ensure that data in transit between the primary DB instance and the read replica is encrypted. What should be done?
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 encryption at rest on the primary DB instance using AWS KMS.
Enabling encryption at rest on the primary DB instance using AWS KMS automatically encrypts the replication traffic between the primary and the read replica. Options A, B, and C are incorrect: A VPN is not required as RDS handles encryption in transit for replication when the primary is encrypted; using a different KMS key for the replica does not affect replication encryption; SSL/TLS is for client connections, not for replication traffic.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Set up a VPN connection between the primary and the replica.
Why it's wrong here
A VPN is unnecessary and not supported for RDS read replicas.
- ✗
Configure the read replica to use a different KMS key.
Why it's wrong here
The replica must use the same key, but encryption is inherited.
- ✗
Enable SSL/TLS on the read replica and configure the primary to use it.
Why it's wrong here
Replication uses an internal encrypted channel automatically.
- ✓
Enable encryption at rest on the primary DB instance using AWS KMS.
Why this is correct
Encrypted replication is automatically enabled when the primary is encrypted.
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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.