The correct answer is to use the ENCRYPTED option with the COPY command and ensure the S3 bucket policy requires HTTPS. This configuration forces the data transfer between Amazon S3 and Redshift to occur over HTTPS, which encrypts the data in transit using TLS, preventing any plaintext exposure during the load operation. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of the distinction between encryption at rest (like S3 server-side encryption) and encryption in transit, a common trap where candidates confuse the two. The COPY command inherently uses HTTPS when the ENCRYPTED option is specified or when the S3 endpoint enforces HTTPS, but it does not support SSH or other protocols. A key memory tip is: "ENCRYPTED for the wire, SSE for the store"—the ENCRYPTED option secures the data while moving, not while sitting in the bucket.
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 stores sensitive customer data in an Amazon S3 bucket. The data is accessed by an Amazon Redshift cluster using the COPY command. The security team wants to ensure that data is encrypted in transit between S3 and Redshift. Which configuration should be used?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use the 'ENCRYPTED' option with the COPY command and ensure the S3 bucket policy requires HTTPS.
Option C is correct because the COPY command supports encryption in transit via HTTPS when using the 'ENCRYPTED' option or using an S3 endpoint that enforces HTTPS. Option A is wrong because S3 supports HTTPS, and specifying 'ENCRYPTED' is needed. Option B is wrong because S3 server-side encryption protects data at rest, not in transit. Option D is wrong because the COPY command does not use SSH; it uses HTTPS.
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 a VPC endpoint for S3 with a bucket policy that denies HTTP.
Why it's wrong here
VPC endpoints enforce HTTPS but the COPY command must use the 'ENCRYPTED' option to ensure encryption.
✗
Use the 'SSH' option in the COPY command to encrypt the transfer.
Why it's wrong here
The COPY command does not support SSH; it uses HTTPS for encrypted transfers.
✓
Use the 'ENCRYPTED' option with the COPY command and ensure the S3 bucket policy requires HTTPS.
Why this is correct
The 'ENCRYPTED' option forces the COPY command to use HTTPS encryption in transit.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable S3 server-side encryption on the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
Server-side encryption protects data at rest, not in transit.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
VPC endpoints enforce HTTPS but the COPY command must use the 'ENCRYPTED' option to ensure encryption.
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.
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: Use the 'ENCRYPTED' option with the COPY command and ensure the S3 bucket policy requires HTTPS. — Option C is correct because the COPY command supports encryption in transit via HTTPS when using the 'ENCRYPTED' option or using an S3 endpoint that enforces HTTPS. Option A is wrong because S3 supports HTTPS, and specifying 'ENCRYPTED' is needed. Option B is wrong because S3 server-side encryption protects data at rest, not in transit. Option D is wrong because the COPY command does not use SSH; it uses HTTPS.
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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Question Discussion
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