- A
Use a CloudHSM key for encryption and create a VPC peering connection to DynamoDB.
Why wrong: CloudHSM is not directly integrated with DynamoDB; VPC peering does not apply to DynamoDB.
- B
Enable server-side encryption with a customer-managed KMS key and route all traffic through a NAT gateway.
Why wrong: NAT gateway does not enforce VPC-only access; traffic still goes over internet.
- C
Enable server-side encryption with a customer-managed KMS key and create an interface VPC endpoint for DynamoDB.
Customer-managed KMS key provides encryption and auditing; interface endpoint allows private VPC access.
- D
Use AWS managed KMS key and a gateway VPC endpoint for DynamoDB.
Why wrong: Requires customer-managed key, not AWS managed. Gateway endpoint works but interface endpoint is more secure with security groups.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to enable server-side encryption with a customer-managed KMS key and create an interface VPC endpoint for DynamoDB. This combination satisfies both the compliance and security requirements because DynamoDB’s server-side encryption integrates directly with AWS KMS, allowing you to specify a customer-managed key that generates audit logs in CloudTrail for every key usage. For private access, an interface VPC endpoint (powered by AWS PrivateLink) enforces that all traffic to DynamoDB stays within your VPC and can be controlled with security groups, unlike a gateway endpoint which lacks granular security group support. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the distinction between gateway and interface endpoints for DynamoDB—a common trap is assuming a gateway endpoint is sufficient for private access, but the exam emphasizes that interface endpoints are the recommended approach for fine-grained security and auditing. Remember the mnemonic: “KMS for keys, PrivateLink for peace” to recall that customer-managed KMS handles encryption auditing while an interface VPC endpoint secures the network path.
DBS-C01 Database Security Practice Question
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 financial services company is using Amazon DynamoDB to store customer transaction data. The compliance team requires that all data be encrypted at rest using a customer-managed AWS KMS key, and that access to the key be auditable via AWS CloudTrail. Additionally, the security team wants to ensure that DynamoDB can only be accessed from within the VPC using a VPC endpoint. Which combination of steps should the company take to meet these requirements?
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
Enable server-side encryption with a customer-managed KMS key and create an interface VPC endpoint for DynamoDB.
Option D is correct because DynamoDB uses KMS for encryption; an interface VPC endpoint (AWS PrivateLink) is used for private access. Option A is wrong because gateway endpoints are for S3 and DynamoDB, but DynamoDB supports both, however interface endpoint is recommended for private access with security groups. Option B is wrong because using a NAT gateway is not secure and does not enforce VPC-only access. Option C is wrong because CloudHSM is not needed for encryption; KMS is sufficient.
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
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use a CloudHSM key for encryption and create a VPC peering connection to DynamoDB.
Why it's wrong here
CloudHSM is not directly integrated with DynamoDB; VPC peering does not apply to DynamoDB.
- ✗
Enable server-side encryption with a customer-managed KMS key and route all traffic through a NAT gateway.
- ✓
Enable server-side encryption with a customer-managed KMS key and create an interface VPC endpoint for DynamoDB.
Why this is correct
Customer-managed KMS key provides encryption and auditing; interface endpoint allows private VPC access.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Use AWS managed KMS key and a gateway VPC endpoint for DynamoDB.
Why it's wrong here
Requires customer-managed key, not AWS managed. Gateway endpoint works but interface endpoint is more secure with security groups.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
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.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
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.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
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
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Database Security — This question tests Database Security — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable server-side encryption with a customer-managed KMS key and create an interface VPC endpoint for DynamoDB. — Option D is correct because DynamoDB uses KMS for encryption; an interface VPC endpoint (AWS PrivateLink) is used for private access. Option A is wrong because gateway endpoints are for S3 and DynamoDB, but DynamoDB supports both, however interface endpoint is recommended for private access with security groups. Option B is wrong because using a NAT gateway is not secure and does not enforce VPC-only access. Option C is wrong because CloudHSM is not needed for encryption; KMS is sufficient.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
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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