- A
Set the backup retention period to a value greater than 0.
Automated backups require a retention period > 0; default is 7 days.
- B
Set a preferred maintenance window.
Why wrong: Maintenance window is separate from backups.
- C
Enable encryption at rest.
Why wrong: Encryption is optional and not required for backups.
- D
Configure a Multi-AZ deployment.
Why wrong: Multi-AZ is optional for backups.
DBS-C01 Deployment and Migration Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of deployment and migration. 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 company is planning to deploy an Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL instance. Which of the following is a required step to enable automated backups?
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
Set the backup retention period to a value greater than 0.
Automated backups in Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL are enabled by setting a backup retention period greater than 0 days. By default, the retention period is 0, which disables automated backups. Once set to a value between 1 and 35 days, RDS automatically takes daily snapshots and retains transaction logs for point-in-time recovery within that window.
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.
- ✓
Set the backup retention period to a value greater than 0.
Why this is correct
Automated backups require a retention period > 0; default is 7 days.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Set a preferred maintenance window.
Why it's wrong here
Maintenance window is separate from backups.
- ✗
Enable encryption at rest.
Why it's wrong here
Encryption is optional and not required for backups.
- ✗
Configure a Multi-AZ deployment.
Why it's wrong here
Multi-AZ is optional for backups.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse enabling automated backups with configuring a maintenance window or Multi-AZ, but the only required step is setting the backup retention period to a non-zero value.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When automated backups are enabled, RDS performs a daily snapshot during the backup window and uploads transaction logs to Amazon S3 every 5 minutes, enabling point-in-time recovery to any second within the retention period. The backup retention period can be modified after creation, but changing it from 0 to a positive value triggers an immediate full snapshot. Note that automated backups are stored in S3 and are not accessible via the RDS console's manual snapshot list.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Deployment and Migration — This question tests Deployment and Migration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Set the backup retention period to a value greater than 0. — Automated backups in Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL are enabled by setting a backup retention period greater than 0 days. By default, the retention period is 0, which disables automated backups. Once set to a value between 1 and 35 days, RDS automatically takes daily snapshots and retains transaction logs for point-in-time recovery within that window.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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