Quick Answer
The answer is to use CloudWatch Logs with PostgreSQL audit logs. This is correct because Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL does not natively support SQL-level auditing through AWS services alone; instead, you must enable the pgaudit extension on your RDS instance, which generates detailed logs of all executed SQL statements, and then configure those log files to be streamed to Amazon CloudWatch Logs for centralized storage, querying, and alerting. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of the distinction between API-level auditing via CloudTrail and database-level SQL auditing, a common trap where candidates mistakenly choose CloudTrail or Database Activity Streams—the latter is only available for Aurora, not RDS PostgreSQL. A helpful memory tip is "PGAudit to CloudWatch: SQL audit the right watch," reinforcing that for RDS PostgreSQL, you pair the native pgaudit extension with CloudWatch Logs to capture every statement.
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 wants to audit all SQL statements executed on their RDS for PostgreSQL database. Which AWS service should they use?
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
Why wrong: DMS is for data migration, not auditing.
VPC Flow Logs
Why wrong: VPC Flow Logs capture network traffic, not SQL statements.
Amazon RDS Performance Insights
Why wrong: Performance Insights shows performance metrics, not SQL audit logs.
CloudWatch Logs with PostgreSQL audit logs
Enable pgaudit extension and publish logs to CloudWatch Logs.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
CloudWatch Logs with PostgreSQL audit logs
Option B is correct. Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL integrates with AWS CloudTrail for API calls, but for SQL-level auditing, you must use the database's native audit logging (e.g., pgaudit extension) and log files to CloudWatch Logs. Option A is for VPC flow logs. Option C is for database activity streams, but that's for Aurora, not RDS PostgreSQL. Option D is for monitoring performance.
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
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
AWS Database Migration Service (DMS)
Why it's wrong here
DMS is for data migration, not auditing.
VPC Flow Logs
Why it's wrong here
VPC Flow Logs capture network traffic, not SQL statements.
Amazon RDS Performance Insights
Why it's wrong here
Performance Insights shows performance metrics, not SQL audit logs.
CloudWatch Logs with PostgreSQL audit logs
Why this is correct
Enable pgaudit extension and publish logs to CloudWatch Logs.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Performance Insights shows performance metrics, not SQL audit logs.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
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
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
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.
Database Security — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Database Security — This question tests Database Security — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
The correct answer is: CloudWatch Logs with PostgreSQL audit logs — Option B is correct. Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL integrates with AWS CloudTrail for API calls, but for SQL-level auditing, you must use the database's native audit logging (e.g., pgaudit extension) and log files to CloudWatch Logs. Option A is for VPC flow logs. Option C is for database activity streams, but that's for Aurora, not RDS PostgreSQL. Option D is for monitoring performance.
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.
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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