- A
Use IAM database authentication for application access.
IAM database authentication allows applications to connect without passwords, reducing the need for DBAs to handle credentials.
- B
Enable audit logging to capture all data access.
Why wrong: Audit logging captures access but does not prevent DBAs from viewing data.
- C
Store database credentials in AWS Secrets Manager and enforce automatic rotation.
This prevents DBAs from knowing the credentials used by applications.
- D
Enable encryption at rest using a customer-managed KMS key.
Why wrong: Encryption at rest protects data on disk but does not prevent DBAs from querying data through the database engine.
- E
Disable query logging to prevent sensitive data from being written to logs.
Why wrong: Disabling logs does not prevent DBAs from accessing data directly.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to store database credentials in AWS Secrets Manager with automatic rotation and enforce IAM database authentication. This approach prevents a DBA from viewing sensitive data in Amazon RDS for MySQL because IAM authentication replaces traditional passwords with short-term, policy-controlled credentials, eliminating the need for DBAs to ever handle or know static database passwords. Secrets Manager further secures the credentials by rotating them automatically, ensuring that even if a DBA had access, the credentials are constantly changing and centrally managed. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of separation of duties and defense-in-depth for RDS security; a common trap is choosing encryption at rest alone, which protects data on disk but does not restrict a DBA’s ability to query live data. Remember the mnemonic “IAM + Rotate = No DBA Peek” to recall that identity-based access combined with credential rotation is the key to locking out administrative eyes.
DBS-C01 Database Security Practice Question
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.
A company is using Amazon RDS for MySQL with Multi-AZ deployment. The security team wants to ensure that database administrators cannot view sensitive data. Which TWO actions should be taken to achieve this goal?
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
Use IAM database authentication for application access.
Option A is correct because IAM database authentication allows you to authenticate to your RDS MySQL instance using an IAM user or role instead of a traditional database password. This eliminates the need for database administrators to know or manage database credentials, as they can only access the database through IAM policies that grant specific, auditable permissions. By using IAM authentication, you enforce a separation of duties where DBAs cannot view sensitive data unless explicitly authorized by IAM policies.
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.
- ✓
Use IAM database authentication for application access.
Why this is correct
IAM database authentication allows applications to connect without passwords, reducing the need for DBAs to handle credentials.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable audit logging to capture all data access.
Why it's wrong here
Audit logging captures access but does not prevent DBAs from viewing data.
- ✓
Store database credentials in AWS Secrets Manager and enforce automatic rotation.
Why this is correct
This prevents DBAs from knowing the credentials used by applications.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable encryption at rest using a customer-managed KMS key.
Why it's wrong here
Encryption at rest protects data on disk but does not prevent DBAs from querying data through the database engine.
- ✗
Disable query logging to prevent sensitive data from being written to logs.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling logs does not prevent DBAs from accessing data directly.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse encryption at rest (which protects data on disk) with access control (which protects data from being queried), leading them to select encryption options when the real requirement is to prevent DBAs from viewing data through database connections.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
IAM database authentication works by generating an authentication token using AWS Signature Version 4, which is used as a password that expires after 15 minutes. This token is generated by the AWS CLI or SDK and is tied to the IAM principal's permissions, allowing fine-grained access control at the database user level. In a real-world scenario, this is critical for compliance frameworks like PCI DSS or HIPAA, where separation of duties requires that DBAs cannot access production data without explicit, auditable authorization.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: Use IAM database authentication for application access. — Option A is correct because IAM database authentication allows you to authenticate to your RDS MySQL instance using an IAM user or role instead of a traditional database password. This eliminates the need for database administrators to know or manage database credentials, as they can only access the database through IAM policies that grant specific, auditable permissions. By using IAM authentication, you enforce a separation of duties where DBAs cannot view sensitive data unless explicitly authorized by IAM policies.
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: Jun 11, 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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