- A
Enable IAM database authentication for the RDS instance and rotate the IAM keys every 90 days.
Why wrong: IAM database authentication does not use passwords; it uses IAM roles and tokens.
- B
Store the password in AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store and configure a scheduled AWS Lambda function to update the parameter and the RDS password.
Why wrong: Parameter Store does not have built-in rotation for RDS; it would require custom scripting but is less integrated than Secrets Manager.
- C
Store the password in Secrets Manager and configure automatic rotation with a Lambda function that updates the RDS password every 90 days.
Secrets Manager supports automatic rotation for RDS with a custom Lambda rotation function.
- D
Use an AWS Lambda function to manually update the RDS password and store the new password in Secrets Manager, triggered by a CloudWatch Events rule every 90 days.
Why wrong: This is manual and not the recommended approach; Secrets Manager can automate the entire rotation.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to store the password in Secrets Manager and configure automatic rotation with a Lambda function that updates the RDS password every 90 days. This works because Secrets Manager natively integrates with RDS for MySQL through a custom Lambda rotation function, which can be scheduled to update the database password at a defined interval—here, every 90 days—without any manual intervention. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of automated secret lifecycle management versus manual or alternative services; a common trap is choosing Systems Manager Parameter Store, which lacks built-in rotation capabilities for RDS passwords, or IAM database authentication, which uses temporary credentials rather than rotating a stored password. Remember the key distinction: Secrets Manager is purpose-built for automatic rotation, while Parameter Store is for static configuration. Memory tip: “Secrets rotate, Parameters stay—Lambda turns the password every 90 days.”
DBS-C01 Database Security Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of database security. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 has a requirement to automatically rotate the password for an Amazon RDS for MySQL DB instance every 90 days. The password is stored in AWS Secrets Manager. Which combination of steps will 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
Store the password in Secrets Manager and configure automatic rotation with a Lambda function that updates the RDS password every 90 days.
Option A is correct. Secrets Manager can automatically rotate secrets for RDS databases using a Lambda rotation function. You can configure the rotation interval to 90 days. Option B is incorrect because Systems Manager Parameter Store does not have built-in rotation for RDS passwords. Option C is incorrect because manual rotation does not meet the automatic requirement. Option D is incorrect because IAM database authentication does not rotate passwords; it uses IAM credentials.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Enable IAM database authentication for the RDS instance and rotate the IAM keys every 90 days.
Why it's wrong here
IAM database authentication does not use passwords; it uses IAM roles and tokens.
- ✗
Store the password in AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store and configure a scheduled AWS Lambda function to update the parameter and the RDS password.
Why it's wrong here
Parameter Store does not have built-in rotation for RDS; it would require custom scripting but is less integrated than Secrets Manager.
- ✓
Store the password in Secrets Manager and configure automatic rotation with a Lambda function that updates the RDS password every 90 days.
Why this is correct
Secrets Manager supports automatic rotation for RDS with a custom Lambda rotation function.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Use an AWS Lambda function to manually update the RDS password and store the new password in Secrets Manager, triggered by a CloudWatch Events rule every 90 days.
Why it's wrong here
This is manual and not the recommended approach; Secrets Manager can automate the entire rotation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DBS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Database Security — This question tests Database Security — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Store the password in Secrets Manager and configure automatic rotation with a Lambda function that updates the RDS password every 90 days. — Option A is correct. Secrets Manager can automatically rotate secrets for RDS databases using a Lambda rotation function. You can configure the rotation interval to 90 days. Option B is incorrect because Systems Manager Parameter Store does not have built-in rotation for RDS passwords. Option C is incorrect because manual rotation does not meet the automatic requirement. Option D is incorrect because IAM database authentication does not rotate passwords; it uses IAM credentials.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DBS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
About these practice questions
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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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