- A
Create a new KMS key and specify it when creating the DB instance to encrypt backups differently.
Why wrong: A different key cannot be specified for backups; the instance key is used.
- B
No additional action is required; RDS automatically uses the same KMS key for backups.
RDS automatically encrypts backups with the same key.
- C
Modify the DB instance to enable backup encryption using a new KMS key.
Why wrong: Modifying does not allow separate backup encryption.
- D
Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket where backups are stored.
Why wrong: RDS backup storage is managed by RDS, not directly on S3 by the user.
Question 463 of 1,730
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 encryption at rest enabled. The security team wants to ensure that the database backups stored in Amazon S3 are also encrypted using a customer-managed KMS key. What should be done to meet this requirement?
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
✓
No additional action is required; RDS automatically uses the same KMS key for backups.
The correct answer is B. When encryption at rest is enabled for an RDS DB instance, RDS automatically encrypts automated backups, snapshots, and read replicas with the same KMS key used for the DB instance. No additional action is required. Option A is incorrect because you cannot specify a separate KMS key for backups; the key is inherited. Option C is incorrect because you cannot modify the DB instance to enable backup encryption with a different key; it is automatically encrypted with the same key. Option D is incorrect because enabling S3 default encryption does not affect RDS backups, as RDS manages the backup storage and encryption directly.
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 new KMS key and specify it when creating the DB instance to encrypt backups differently.
Why it's wrong here
A different key cannot be specified for backups; the instance key is used.
- ✓
No additional action is required; RDS automatically uses the same KMS key for backups.
Why this is correct
RDS automatically encrypts backups with the same key.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Modify the DB instance to enable backup encryption using a new KMS key.
Why it's wrong here
Modifying does not allow separate backup encryption.
- ✗
Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket where backups are stored.
Why it's wrong here
RDS backup storage is managed by RDS, not directly on S3 by the user.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
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: No additional action is required; RDS automatically uses the same KMS key for backups. — The correct answer is B. When encryption at rest is enabled for an RDS DB instance, RDS automatically encrypts automated backups, snapshots, and read replicas with the same KMS key used for the DB instance. No additional action is required. Option A is incorrect because you cannot specify a separate KMS key for backups; the key is inherited. Option C is incorrect because you cannot modify the DB instance to enable backup encryption with a different key; it is automatically encrypted with the same key. Option D is incorrect because enabling S3 default encryption does not affect RDS backups, as RDS manages the backup storage and encryption directly.
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 →
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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