DBS-C01 Database Security Practice Question

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.

```
{
    "Version": "2012-10-17",
    "Statement": [
        {
            "Effect": "Allow",
            "Action": "rds:CreateDBInstance",
            "Resource": "*"
        },
        {
            "Effect": "Deny",
            "Action": "rds:CreateDBInstance",
            "Resource": "*",
            "Condition": {
                "Bool": {
                    "rds:StorageEncrypted": "false"
                }
            }
        }
    ]
}
```

An IAM policy is shown in the exhibit. What is the effect of this policy when a user tries to create an unencrypted RDS DB instance?

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

✓

The user is denied from creating the unencrypted instance because of the Deny statement.

The IAM policy includes an Allow statement for 'rds:CreateDBInstance' and a Deny statement with a condition 'rds:StorageEncrypted=false'. When the user attempts to create an unencrypted RDS instance, the Deny statement explicitly denies the action because the condition is met (encryption is not enabled). Explicit Deny always overrides any Allow, so the user is denied. Option B is incorrect because the Deny statement is valid under IAM policy evaluation logic. Option C is incorrect because the Deny is explicit, not implicit, and only applies to unencrypted instances, not all DB instances. Option D is incorrect because the Deny explicitly overrides the Allow for unencrypted instances.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✓
The user is denied from creating the unencrypted instance because of the Deny statement.
Why this is correct
The Deny statement explicitly denies creation when encryption is false.
✗
The user is allowed to create the unencrypted instance because the Deny statement is not valid.
Why it's wrong here
The Deny statement is valid and will be evaluated.
✗
The user is denied from creating any DB instance because of an implicit deny.
Why it's wrong here
The Allow statement allows creation, but the Deny overrides for unencrypted instances.
✗
The user is allowed to create the unencrypted instance because of the Allow statement.
Why it's wrong here
Deny statements override Allow statements.

Go deeper

1 more way this is tested on DBS-C01

These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.

Variation 1. A company wants to ensure that only specific IAM users can perform certain operations on an Amazon RDS DB instance, such as creating snapshots or modifying the instance. Which AWS feature should be used to define these permissions?

easy

A.VPC security groups
✓ B.IAM policies
C.DB parameter groups
D.DB subnet groups

Why B: IAM policies are used to grant or deny permissions to AWS resources, including Amazon RDS DB instances. By attaching an IAM policy to a user, group, or role, you can control which actions (e.g., CreateDBSnapshot, ModifyDBInstance) are allowed. Options A, C, and D are incorrect: VPC security groups control network traffic, DB parameter groups manage database engine settings, and DB subnet groups define which subnets the DB instance can use—none of these define permissions for specific operations.

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.

DBS-C01 Database Security Practice Question

Exhibit

Why each option matters

Option-by-option breakdown

Related to this question

1 more way this is tested on DBS-C01