- A
Create a read replica with encryption enabled.
Why wrong: Read replicas inherit the encryption setting of the source.
- B
Enable SSL on the DB instance.
Why wrong: SSL encrypts in transit, not at rest.
- C
Create a new encrypted DB instance and migrate data using database dump and restore.
Migrating to a new encrypted instance is another valid method.
- D
Take a snapshot of the DB instance, copy it with encryption enabled, and restore from the encrypted snapshot.
This is the standard method to encrypt an existing instance.
- E
Modify the DB instance and enable encryption.
Why wrong: Modification does not support enabling encryption on existing instances.
Question 347 of 1,730
Encrypting an Unencrypted RDS Instance: Snapshot Copy and Restore
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.
Which TWO actions can be used to encrypt an existing unencrypted Amazon RDS for MySQL DB instance? (Choose 2.)
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
✓
Create a new encrypted DB instance and migrate data using database dump and restore.
To encrypt an existing unencrypted RDS for MySQL DB instance, you cannot modify the instance directly (option E is incorrect). You can either take a snapshot, copy it with encryption enabled, and restore from the encrypted snapshot (option D), or create a new encrypted DB instance and migrate data using database dump and restore (option C). Option A is incorrect because creating a read replica with encryption enabled does not encrypt the source instance. Option B is incorrect because enabling SSL encrypts data in transit, not at rest.
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.
- ✗
Create a read replica with encryption enabled.
Why it's wrong here
Read replicas inherit the encryption setting of the source.
- ✗
Enable SSL on the DB instance.
- ✓
Create a new encrypted DB instance and migrate data using database dump and restore.
Why this is correct
Migrating to a new encrypted instance is another valid method.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Take a snapshot of the DB instance, copy it with encryption enabled, and restore from the encrypted snapshot.
Why this is correct
This is the standard method to encrypt an existing instance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Modify the DB instance and enable encryption.
Why it's wrong here
Modification does not support enabling encryption on existing instances.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
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 DB instance and migrate data using database dump and restore. — To encrypt an existing unencrypted RDS for MySQL DB instance, you cannot modify the instance directly (option E is incorrect). You can either take a snapshot, copy it with encryption enabled, and restore from the encrypted snapshot (option D), or create a new encrypted DB instance and migrate data using database dump and restore (option C). Option A is incorrect because creating a read replica with encryption enabled does not encrypt the source instance. Option B is incorrect because enabling SSL encrypts data in transit, not at rest.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways 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 database administrator runs the AWS CLI command shown in the exhibit. The administrator wants to enable encryption at rest for the RDS instance. What should the administrator do?
hard- A.Modify the DB instance and set StorageEncrypted to true.
- B.Create a new KMS key and associate it with the DB instance.
- C.Create a new DB parameter group with encryption enabled.
- ✓ D.Take a snapshot of the DB instance, copy the snapshot with encryption enabled, and restore a new instance.
Why D: The correct answer is D. To enable encryption on an unencrypted RDS instance, you must take a snapshot, copy the snapshot with encryption enabled, and restore a new encrypted instance. You cannot enable encryption on an existing instance (Option A is incorrect). Creating a new KMS key does not enable encryption on the existing instance (Option B is incorrect). Encryption is not controlled by a DB parameter group (Option C is incorrect). Only D is correct.
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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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