DBS-C01 IAM Database Authentication Practice Question
A developer is configuring an Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance. The application connects using IAM database authentication. Which setting must be enabled on the DB instance for IAM authentication to work?
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
✓
Set the 'rds.force_ssl' parameter to 1.
IAM database authentication for Amazon RDS PostgreSQL requires an encrypted connection to protect the authentication token. Setting the 'rds.force_ssl' parameter to 1 enforces TLS/SSL connections between the client and the database, which is a prerequisite for IAM authentication. Option A is incorrect because the port (default 5432) does not need to change for IAM. Option C is incorrect because the DB instance can be private within a VPC; IAM authentication works over private or public connections as long as TLS is enforced. Option D is incorrect because the master username is not changed; IAM authentication uses database users that are mapped to IAM identities.
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 the database port to 5432.
Why it's wrong here
The port number does not affect IAM authentication; 5432 is the default PostgreSQL port and does not need to be modified.
- ✓
Set the 'rds.force_ssl' parameter to 1.
Why this is correct
Correct. The 'rds.force_ssl' parameter must be set to 1 to enforce TLS, which is required for IAM database authentication.
- ✗
Ensure the DB instance is publicly accessible.
Why it's wrong here
Public accessibility is not required. IAM authentication works over public or private connections as long as TLS is enforced.
- ✗
Change the master username to 'iam_user'.
Why it's wrong here
The master username is not changed for IAM authentication. IAM authentication uses existing database users that are granted IAM authentication privileges.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This DBS-C01 question is part of Courseiva's 1,663-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.