Quick Answer
The correct choice is automated backups with a retention period greater than 0, as this is the fundamental prerequisite for point-in-time recovery on Amazon RDS. Point-in-time recovery works by replaying transaction logs from the specified time against a full daily backup, and these logs are only retained when automated backups are enabled—even if the retention period is set to just one day. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this concept tests your understanding that PITR relies solely on automated backup retention, not on high-availability features like Multi-AZ or read replicas. A common trap is assuming Multi-AZ is required, but Multi-AZ only provides failover redundancy, not backup log retention. Remember the memory tip: "PITR needs logs, logs need backups, backups need retention."
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of management and operations. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 restore an Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance to a specific point in time within the retention period. What must be enabled for this operation to be possible?
Deletion protection enabled.
Why wrong: Deletion protection prevents deletion, not backup.
A read replica in the same region.
Why wrong: Read replicas are for offloading reads, not for PITR.
Automated backups with a retention period greater than 0.
PITR relies on automated backups and transaction logs.
Multi-AZ deployment.
Why wrong: Multi-AZ provides high availability, not backup capability.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Automated backups with a retention period greater than 0.
Option A is correct because automated backups (enabled by default with a retention period) are required for point-in-time recovery (PITR). Option B is incorrect because Multi-AZ is not required for PITR. Option C is incorrect because read replicas are not needed. Option D is incorrect because deletion protection prevents accidental deletion but does not affect PITR.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Deletion protection enabled.
Why it's wrong here
Deletion protection prevents deletion, not backup.
A read replica in the same region.
Why it's wrong here
Read replicas are for offloading reads, not for PITR.
Automated backups with a retention period greater than 0.
Why this is correct
PITR relies on automated backups and transaction logs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Multi-AZ deployment.
Why it's wrong here
Multi-AZ provides high availability, not backup capability.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Identify which DBS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Management and Operations — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Management and Operations — This question tests Management and Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Automated backups with a retention period greater than 0. — Option A is correct because automated backups (enabled by default with a retention period) are required for point-in-time recovery (PITR). Option B is incorrect because Multi-AZ is not required for PITR. Option C is incorrect because read replicas are not needed. Option D is incorrect because deletion protection prevents accidental deletion but does not affect PITR.
Identify which DBS-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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