DBS-C01 Amazon Redshift Encryption Practice Question
A company is using Amazon Redshift and needs to encrypt data at rest with a customer-managed key. Which TWO steps are required to enable encryption with a customer-managed AWS KMS key?
⚠ Common exam trap
Encryption must be enabled at cluster creation or by restoring from an encrypted snapshot; it cannot be added to an existing unencrypted cluster.
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 a customer-managed key in AWS KMS.
Options A and B are correct. To enable encryption with a customer-managed AWS KMS key, you must first create a customer-managed KMS key (A) and then specify that KMS key when creating a new Redshift cluster (B). Option C is incorrect because you cannot modify an existing unencrypted Redshift cluster to enable encryption; encryption must be set at cluster creation or by restoring from an encrypted snapshot. Option D is incorrect because Redshift encryption with KMS does not require an HSM. Option E is incorrect because AWS Support cannot enable encryption; it must be performed by the customer via the AWS Management Console, CLI, or API.
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 a customer-managed key in AWS KMS.
Why this is correct
Correct. A customer-managed KMS key must be created to control access to the encryption key.
- ✓
Specify the KMS key when creating the Redshift cluster.
Why this is correct
Correct. The KMS key must be specified when creating the Redshift cluster; encryption cannot be added later.
- ✗
Use the AWS CLI to modify the cluster to enable encryption.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Encryption cannot be enabled on an existing unencrypted Redshift cluster by modifying it. You must create a new encrypted cluster or restore from an encrypted snapshot.
- ✗
Configure the Redshift cluster to use an HSM.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Redshift encryption with KMS uses KMS keys, not HSMs. HSMs are used with CloudHSM for hardware-based key storage but are not required for KMS-managed keys.
- ✗
Request AWS Support to enable encryption.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. AWS Support cannot enable encryption. The customer must configure encryption through the AWS Management Console, CLI, or API.
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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.