Quick Answer
Performance Insights is the correct choice because it directly surfaces active database sessions and their associated queries, enabling you to pinpoint exactly which connections are consuming resources during periods of high connections on RDS. Unlike CloudTrail, which logs API-level activity, or Enhanced Monitoring, which tracks OS metrics like CPU and memory, Performance Insights visualizes database load by grouping sessions by wait events, SQL, and users—making it the only tool listed that answers the specific need to identify active sessions and their queries. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between monitoring layers: CloudTrail for governance, Enhanced Monitoring for host-level health, and Performance Insights for database engine internals. A common trap is confusing Enhanced Monitoring’s OS metrics with session-level data, so remember that Performance Insights is your go-to for “who is running what, right now.” Memory tip: “PI for sessions, EM for OS, CT for API calls.”
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring and troubleshooting. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 database administrator notices that an Amazon RDS for Oracle instance has a high number of connections, causing performance degradation. Which tool can be used to identify the active sessions and their queries?
Amazon Inspector
Why wrong: Inspector is a security assessment tool.
Performance Insights
Performance Insights shows active sessions and their queries.
RDS Enhanced Monitoring
Why wrong: Enhanced Monitoring provides OS metrics, not session details.
AWS CloudTrail
Why wrong: CloudTrail logs API calls, not database sessions.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Performance Insights
Option D is correct because Performance Insights provides a dashboard to monitor active sessions and the queries they are running. Option A is wrong because AWS CloudTrail logs API calls, not database sessions. Option B is wrong because RDS Enhanced Monitoring provides OS metrics, not database session details. Option C is wrong because Amazon Inspector is a security assessment tool.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Amazon Inspector
Why it's wrong here
Inspector is a security assessment tool.
Performance Insights
Why this is correct
Performance Insights shows active sessions and their queries.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
RDS Enhanced Monitoring
Why it's wrong here
Enhanced Monitoring provides OS metrics, not session details.
AWS CloudTrail
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail logs API calls, not database sessions.
Common exam traps
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Real-world example
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. ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement. 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
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related DBS-C01 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Monitoring and Troubleshooting — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Monitoring and Troubleshooting — This question tests Monitoring and Troubleshooting — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
The correct answer is: Performance Insights — Option D is correct because Performance Insights provides a dashboard to monitor active sessions and the queries they are running. Option A is wrong because AWS CloudTrail logs API calls, not database sessions. Option B is wrong because RDS Enhanced Monitoring provides OS metrics, not database session details. Option C is wrong because Amazon Inspector is a security assessment tool.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related DBS-C01 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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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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