This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of database security. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
Which THREE measures can help protect an Amazon RDS database from a DDoS attack? (Choose 3.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Place the RDS instance in a private subnet without direct internet access.
Placing the RDS instance in a private subnet without direct internet access prevents any external traffic from reaching the database endpoint. Since DDoS attacks rely on overwhelming a publicly routable IP address, removing internet-facing connectivity eliminates the attack surface entirely. This is a foundational network-layer defense that complements other security controls.
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.
✓
Place the RDS instance in a private subnet without direct internet access.
Why this is correct
Reduces exposure to DDoS attacks.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Use security groups to restrict inbound traffic to known IP addresses.
Why this is correct
Limits attack surface.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Make the RDS instance publicly accessible for easy monitoring.
Why it's wrong here
Public access increases vulnerability.
✓
Use AWS Shield Advanced.
Why this is correct
AWS Shield Advanced provides DDoS protection.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Disable audit logging to reduce resource usage.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling logging does not prevent DDoS.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think making an RDS instance publicly accessible is acceptable for monitoring purposes, but AWS best practices require all database access to go through a bastion host or VPN, and disabling audit logging is a common distractor that appears to reduce overhead but actually removes critical security visibility without any DDoS benefit.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
RDS instances in a private subnet use only RFC 1918 addresses and are unreachable from the internet unless traffic is routed through a NATgateway or VPN. Security groups act as a stateful firewall at the instance level, filtering traffic based on source IP and port; when combined with a private subnet, they provide defense in depth. AWS Shield Advanced adds enhanced DDoS detection and mitigation at the edge, including cost protection against scaling charges during an attack, but it does not replace the need for network isolation.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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: Place the RDS instance in a private subnet without direct internet access. — Placing the RDS instance in a private subnet without direct internet access prevents any external traffic from reaching the database endpoint. Since DDoS attacks rely on overwhelming a publicly routable IP address, removing internet-facing connectivity eliminates the attack surface entirely. This is a foundational network-layer defense that complements other security controls.
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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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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