The correct step is to enable automated backups with a retention period of 35 days. Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL natively supports automated backups with a configurable retention period of up to 35 days, meaning no third-party tools or manual snapshot scripts are required to meet this requirement. Automated backups include both daily snapshots and transaction logs, enabling point-in-time recovery to any second within the retention window—a capability that manual snapshots alone cannot provide. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of RDS backup limits and the distinction between automated backups and manual snapshots; a common trap is assuming you need a custom Lambda or AWS Backup solution for a 35-day retention, when in fact RDS already supports it up to that maximum. Remember the memory tip: “35 is the max, no extra tax”—meaning the 35-day ceiling is built into RDS automated backups, so you simply set it and forget it.
DBS-C01 Management and Operations Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of management and operations. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 wants to automate backups for an Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance. The backup retention period should be 35 days. Which step is required?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable automated backups with a retention period of 35 days.
Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL supports automated backups with a configurable retention period of up to 35 days. By enabling automated backups and setting the retention period to 35 days, the company meets the requirement without additional tooling or manual effort. Automated backups include transaction logs for point-in-time recovery, which is not available with manual snapshots alone.
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.
✓
Enable automated backups with a retention period of 35 days.
Why this is correct
RDS automated backups can be configured with a retention period up to 35 days.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use AWS Backup to schedule backups.
Why it's wrong here
AWS Backup can be used but is not required; RDS automated backups suffice.
✗
Create a manual snapshot every day and delete after 35 days.
Why it's wrong here
Manual snapshots can be retained longer, but the requirement specifies 'automated backups'.
✗
Set up a cross-region snapshot copy.
Why it's wrong here
Cross-region copy is for disaster recovery, not for retention policy.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may overcomplicate the solution by choosing AWS Backup or manual snapshots, when the simplest and most direct method is to enable automated backups with the desired retention period, which is a native RDS feature.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
RDS automated backups are stored in Amazon S3 and include both daily snapshots and transaction logs, enabling point-in-time recovery to any second within the retention window. The maximum retention period of 35 days is a hard limit enforced by the RDS API; attempting to set a value higher than 35 will result in a validation error. In a real-world scenario, if a company needs a retention period longer than 35 days, they must use manual snapshots or AWS Backup with a custom lifecycle policy.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Management and Operations — This question tests Management and Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable automated backups with a retention period of 35 days. — Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL supports automated backups with a configurable retention period of up to 35 days. By enabling automated backups and setting the retention period to 35 days, the company meets the requirement without additional tooling or manual effort. Automated backups include transaction logs for point-in-time recovery, which is not available with manual snapshots alone.
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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Question Discussion
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