This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of database security. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 startup is using Amazon RDS for MySQL as its primary database. The database contains user profiles and payment information. The security team wants to ensure that database snapshots are encrypted and that the encryption key is managed by the company. The team also wants to enforce that all future snapshots are encrypted automatically. The current RDS instance is not encrypted. What should they do?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "primary"
Why it matters: Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a new encrypted RDS instance, migrate the data, and point the application to the new instance.
Option B is correct. RDS encryption cannot be enabled on an existing unencrypted instance. They must create a new encrypted instance, migrate the data, and delete the old instance. Option A is wrong because you cannot enable encryption on an existing instance. Option C is wrong because only the AWS managed key is used for encrypting snapshots of unencrypted instances, but that does not encrypt the instance itself. Option D is wrong because RDS does not support encryption at the storage level.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Enable encryption on the existing RDS instance by modifying the DB instance.
Why it's wrong here
RDS does not allow enabling encryption on an existing instance.
✓
Create a new encrypted RDS instance, migrate the data, and point the application to the new instance.
Why this is correct
This is the only way to encrypt an existing RDS instance.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "primary" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use AWS KMS to encrypt the underlying EBS volumes of the RDS instance.
Why it's wrong here
RDS does not use EBS volumes directly.
✗
Take a snapshot of the current instance, copy it with encryption enabled, and restore from the encrypted snapshot.
Why it's wrong here
Restoring from an encrypted snapshot creates an encrypted instance, but the original instance remains unencrypted.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
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
How to think about this question
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.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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.
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.
Database Security — This question tests Database Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a new encrypted RDS instance, migrate the data, and point the application to the new instance. — Option B is correct. RDS encryption cannot be enabled on an existing unencrypted instance. They must create a new encrypted instance, migrate the data, and delete the old instance. Option A is wrong because you cannot enable encryption on an existing instance. Option C is wrong because only the AWS managed key is used for encrypting snapshots of unencrypted instances, but that does not encrypt the instance itself. Option D is wrong because RDS does not support encryption at the storage level.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "primary". Asks for the main purpose or function, not a secondary benefit. Eliminate answers that describe side-effects or partial functions.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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