The correct answer is to enable SSL/TLS on the RDS instance and configure the application to connect using SSL. This works because SSL/TLS encrypts the data as it travels between the EC2 application and the RDS PostgreSQL database, ensuring encryption in transit even within the same VPC. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that security groups control network access, not encryption, and that VPC peering or VPNs are unnecessary for same-VPC traffic. A common trap is confusing network-level controls with encryption—remember that SSL/TLS is the only mechanism that actually encrypts the data stream. For a quick memory tip: think of SSL as the “S” in “secure socket layer”—it’s the layer that locks the data while it’s moving.
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 an Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL DB instance that needs to be accessed by an application running on an Amazon EC2 instance. Both resources are in the same VPC. The security team insists that all traffic between the application and the database be encrypted in transit. Which configuration ensures this?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable SSL/TLS on the RDS instance and configure the application to connect using SSL.
Option B is correct because enabling SSL/TLS on the RDS instance and configuring the application to use SSL ensures encryption in transit. Option A is wrong because security group rules control access, not encryption. Option C is wrong because VPC peering is for inter-VPC communication. Option D is wrong because a VPN is not needed for same-VPC communication.
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.
✗
Add a security group rule that allows traffic only from the EC2 instance's private IP.
Why it's wrong here
Security groups do not encrypt traffic; they only filter it.
✗
Create an AWS Site-to-Site VPN connection between the EC2 instance and the RDS instance.
Why it's wrong here
A VPN is unnecessary for same-VPC traffic and adds complexity.
✓
Enable SSL/TLS on the RDS instance and configure the application to connect using SSL.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Set up VPC peering between the EC2 instance's VPC and the RDS instance's VPC.
Why it's wrong here
VPC peering does not encrypt traffic by default.
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 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 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.
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: Enable SSL/TLS on the RDS instance and configure the application to connect using SSL. — Option B is correct because enabling SSL/TLS on the RDS instance and configuring the application to use SSL ensures encryption in transit. Option A is wrong because security group rules control access, not encryption. Option C is wrong because VPC peering is for inter-VPC communication. Option D is wrong because a VPN is not needed for same-VPC communication.
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.
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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.
Question Discussion
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