Quick Answer
The correct answer is to use AWS CloudTrail and Amazon CloudWatch Logs together. CloudTrail captures all API calls made to your AWS account, including actions like AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress or RevokeSecurityGroupIngress that modify RDS security group rules, and it can be configured to deliver those logs to CloudWatch Logs for real-time monitoring, alerting, and long-term audit storage. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this pairing tests your understanding that CloudTrail handles the logging of control-plane changes, while CloudWatch Logs provides the centralized ingestion and alerting mechanism—a common trap is confusing AWS Config (which tracks configuration state but not real-time API streams) or VPC Flow Logs (which capture network traffic, not API calls). Remember the mnemonic: “Trail tracks the call, Logs catch it all.”
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of management and operations. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 database administrator is responsible for managing an Amazon RDS for Oracle DB instance. The DBA needs to ensure that all changes to the DB instance's security group rules are logged for audit purposes. Which TWO services can be used together to achieve this? (Select TWO.)
Amazon Inspector
Why wrong: Inspector is for vulnerability assessment.
AWS Config
Why wrong: Config evaluates configuration rules but does not stream logs.
AWS CloudTrail
CloudTrail records API calls that modify security group rules.
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
CloudTrail logs can be streamed to CloudWatch Logs for monitoring.
Amazon VPC Flow Logs
Why wrong: Flow Logs capture network traffic, not API calls.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
AWS CloudTrail
Options A and B are correct. AWS CloudTrail logs API calls, including those that modify security group rules (e.g., AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress). CloudTrail logs can be sent to Amazon CloudWatch Logs for monitoring and alerting. Option C is incorrect because AWS Config tracks configuration changes but does not provide real-time log streaming to CloudWatch Logs. Option D is incorrect because VPC Flow Logs capture network traffic, not API calls. Option E is incorrect because Amazon Inspector is for security assessments.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Amazon Inspector
Why it's wrong here
Inspector is for vulnerability assessment.
AWS Config
Why it's wrong here
Config evaluates configuration rules but does not stream logs.
AWS CloudTrail
Why this is correct
CloudTrail records API calls that modify security group rules.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
Why this is correct
CloudTrail logs can be streamed to CloudWatch Logs for monitoring.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Amazon VPC Flow Logs
Why it's wrong here
Flow Logs capture network traffic, not API calls.
Common exam traps
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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 ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related DBS-C01 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Management and Operations — study guide chapter
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Related practice questions
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FAQ
Management and Operations — This question tests Management and Operations — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
The correct answer is: AWS CloudTrail — Options A and B are correct. AWS CloudTrail logs API calls, including those that modify security group rules (e.g., AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress). CloudTrail logs can be sent to Amazon CloudWatch Logs for monitoring and alerting. Option C is incorrect because AWS Config tracks configuration changes but does not provide real-time log streaming to CloudWatch Logs. Option D is incorrect because VPC Flow Logs capture network traffic, not API calls. Option E is incorrect because Amazon Inspector is for security assessments.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related DBS-C01 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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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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