Quick Answer
The answer is rds:DeleteDBInstance, as this is the specific IAM action that must be explicitly denied to block RDS deletion. In AWS Identity and Access Management, an explicit deny overrides any allow statements, so by explicitly denying rds:DeleteDBInstance, you ensure that even if a user has broad permissions like rds:* or a full-access policy, they cannot delete the database instance. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this concept tests your understanding of IAM policy evaluation logic, particularly the difference between implicit and explicit denies—a common trap is assuming that simply omitting the delete action from an allow policy is sufficient, but without an explicit deny, a separate allow from another policy could still grant deletion rights. Remember the mnemonic: "Explicit deny to say goodbye" to reinforce that only a direct denial of the delete action prevents termination.
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 developer needs to grant an IAM user the ability to perform all operations on an Amazon RDS DB instance except the ability to delete it. Which IAM policy action should be explicitly denied?
rds:RebootDBInstance
Why wrong: Rebooting does not delete.
rds:StopDBInstance
Why wrong: Stopping does not delete.
rds:ModifyDBInstance
Why wrong: Modifying does not delete.
rds:DeleteDBInstance
Explicitly denying this action prevents deletion.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
rds:DeleteDBInstance
To prevent deletion, you must explicitly deny the rds:DeleteDBInstance action. Option A is wrong because rds:ModifyDBInstance does not delete. Option C is wrong because rds:StopDBInstance does not delete. Option D is wrong because rds:RebootDBInstance does not delete.
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.
rds:RebootDBInstance
Why it's wrong here
Rebooting does not delete.
rds:StopDBInstance
Why it's wrong here
Stopping does not delete.
rds:ModifyDBInstance
Why it's wrong here
Modifying does not delete.
rds:DeleteDBInstance
Why this is correct
Explicitly denying this action prevents deletion.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
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.
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FAQ
Database Security — This question tests Database Security — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
The correct answer is: rds:DeleteDBInstance — To prevent deletion, you must explicitly deny the rds:DeleteDBInstance action. Option A is wrong because rds:ModifyDBInstance does not delete. Option C is wrong because rds:StopDBInstance does not delete. Option D is wrong because rds:RebootDBInstance does not delete.
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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