The answer is to enable the pgaudit extension and set the 'pgaudit.log' parameter to include 'read' and 'write' statements. This is correct because pgaudit is a dedicated PostgreSQL extension that provides detailed session and object audit logging, capturing every SQL query—including SELECT statements—by logging them to the database’s standard log files. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of native PostgreSQL auditing versus AWS-native services like Database Activity Streams, which are often a distractor because they stream events to CloudWatch but do not capture all SQL queries by default and require extra setup. A common trap is confusing pgaudit with MySQL’s audit plugin or assuming connection logging suffices. Remember: to audit SQL queries in RDS PostgreSQL with pgaudit, you must explicitly set pgaudit.log to cover both read and write operations—think “read and write, not just the log file.”
DBS-C01 Database Security Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of database security. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 company uses Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL to store customer data. The security team wants to audit all SQL queries executed against the database, including SELECT statements. Which TWO actions should be taken to achieve this?
pgaudit is the standard extension for PostgreSQL audit logging.
B
Enable the 'log_connections' and 'log_disconnections' parameters.
Why wrong: These log connection events, not SQL queries.
C
Set the 'pgaudit.log' parameter to include 'read' and 'write' statements.
This enables logging of SELECT and DML statements.
D
Set the 'audit_log_enabled' parameter to 1 in the DB parameter group.
Why wrong: This parameter is for MySQL, not PostgreSQL.
E
Enable Database Activity Streams on the DB instance.
Why wrong: Activity Streams provide a stream of database activities, but they are not the primary method for SQL auditing and require additional setup.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Install the pgaudit extension in the DB instance.
To audit SQL queries in RDS PostgreSQL, you can enable the pgaudit extension (Option A) and set the appropriate parameters (Option B). Database Activity Streams (Option C) send events to CloudWatch and Kinesis, but they capture a subset of activities and require additional configuration; they are not the primary method for SQL auditing. Option D is about logging connections, not queries. Option E is for MySQL, not PostgreSQL.
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.
✓
Install the pgaudit extension in the DB instance.
Why this is correct
pgaudit is the standard extension for PostgreSQL audit logging.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable the 'log_connections' and 'log_disconnections' parameters.
Why it's wrong here
These log connection events, not SQL queries.
✓
Set the 'pgaudit.log' parameter to include 'read' and 'write' statements.
Why this is correct
This enables logging of SELECT and DML statements.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Set the 'audit_log_enabled' parameter to 1 in the DB parameter group.
Why it's wrong here
This parameter is for MySQL, not PostgreSQL.
✗
Enable Database Activity Streams on the DB instance.
Why it's wrong here
Activity Streams provide a stream of database activities, but they are not the primary method for SQL auditing and require additional setup.
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 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
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: Install the pgaudit extension in the DB instance. — To audit SQL queries in RDS PostgreSQL, you can enable the pgaudit extension (Option A) and set the appropriate parameters (Option B). Database Activity Streams (Option C) send events to CloudWatch and Kinesis, but they capture a subset of activities and require additional configuration; they are not the primary method for SQL auditing. Option D is about logging connections, not queries. Option E is for MySQL, not PostgreSQL.
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.
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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