- A
Create a VPC endpoint for RDS and attach a policy that allows only the specific IP addresses.
Why wrong: VPC endpoints are for private connectivity, not for restricting public access.
- B
Use an IAM policy with a condition that restricts the source IP address.
Why wrong: IAM policies control who can make API calls, not network access to the database.
- C
Configure a security group associated with the RDS instance to allow inbound traffic only from the specific IP addresses.
Security groups can restrict inbound traffic by IP address.
- D
Configure a network ACL to allow inbound traffic from the specific IP addresses.
Why wrong: NACLs are subnet-level and do not apply to the RDS instance directly.
Question 242 of 1,730
Restricting Publicly Accessible RDS to Specific IP Addresses
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 MySQL DB instance that is publicly accessible. The security team wants to restrict access to only specific IP addresses. Which configuration should be used?
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
✓
Configure a security group associated with the RDS instance to allow inbound traffic only from the specific IP addresses.
Option C is correct. A security group associated with the RDS instance can be configured to restrict inbound traffic to specific IP addresses, even if the instance is publicly accessible. Option A is incorrect because a VPC endpoint is used for private connectivity from within a VPC, not for restricting public access. Option B is incorrect because IAM policies control permissions for API actions, not network-level access. Option D is incorrect because network ACLs are stateless and applied at the subnet level, and while they can filter IP traffic, security groups are the more appropriate and granular control for individual RDS instances.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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 VPC endpoint for RDS and attach a policy that allows only the specific IP addresses.
Why it's wrong here
VPC endpoints are for private connectivity, not for restricting public access.
- ✗
Use an IAM policy with a condition that restricts the source IP address.
Why it's wrong here
IAM policies control who can make API calls, not network access to the database.
- ✓
Configure a security group associated with the RDS instance to allow inbound traffic only from the specific IP addresses.
Why this is correct
Security groups can restrict inbound traffic by IP address.
Related concept
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- ✗
Configure a network ACL to allow inbound traffic from the specific IP addresses.
Why it's wrong here
NACLs are subnet-level and do not apply to the RDS instance directly.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related DBS-C01 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Database Security — This question tests Database Security — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure a security group associated with the RDS instance to allow inbound traffic only from the specific IP addresses. — Option C is correct. A security group associated with the RDS instance can be configured to restrict inbound traffic to specific IP addresses, even if the instance is publicly accessible. Option A is incorrect because a VPC endpoint is used for private connectivity from within a VPC, not for restricting public access. Option B is incorrect because IAM policies control permissions for API actions, not network-level access. Option D is incorrect because network ACLs are stateless and applied at the subnet level, and while they can filter IP traffic, security groups are the more appropriate and granular control for individual RDS instances.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related DBS-C01 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
About these practice questions
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Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on DBS-C01
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company has an Amazon RDS for Oracle DB instance that is publicly accessible. They want to restrict access to only a specific CIDR block. Which two actions must be taken together?
medium- ✓ A.Modify the VPC security group to allow inbound traffic on the database port from the specific CIDR, and ensure the DB instance is publicly accessible with the correct security group.
- B.Modify the DB subnet group to include only subnets from the allowed CIDR.
- C.Add a rule to the network ACL to allow inbound traffic from the CIDR.
- D.Set the rds.force_ssl parameter to force encrypted connections from the allowed CIDR.
Why A: Option A is correct because you must modify the VPC security group to allow inbound traffic on the database port from the specific CIDR, and the DB instance must be configured as publicly accessible with that security group attached. Option B is wrong because the DB subnet group determines which subnets the instance can be deployed in, not inbound access restrictions. Option C is wrong because network ACLs operate at the subnet level and are less granular; security groups are the appropriate mechanism for RDS access control. Option D is wrong because the rds.force_ssl parameter enforces encrypted connections but does not restrict by source IP or CIDR.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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