This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security. 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 encrypt data in transit between an on-premises application and an Amazon RDS instance. Which of the following should be implemented?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use SSL/TLS for the database connection
Encryption in transit is achieved by using SSL/TLS for the connection. RDS supports SSL/TLS connections to encrypt data moving between the client and the database.
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.
✗
Use an AWS Site-to-Site VPN connection
Why it's wrong here
VPN encrypts traffic at the network layer, but the application-to-database connection should use SSL/TLS for end-to-end encryption.
✓
Use SSL/TLS for the database connection
Why this is correct
SSL/TLS encrypts data in transit between client and RDS.
Place the RDS instance in a private subnet and use a bastion host
Why it's wrong here
A bastion host provides access control but does not encrypt data in transit.
✗
Enable encryption at rest on the RDS instance
Why it's wrong here
Encryption at rest protects data stored on disk, not in transit.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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 DVA-C02 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Security — This question tests Security — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use SSL/TLS for the database connection — Encryption in transit is achieved by using SSL/TLS for the connection. RDS supports SSL/TLS connections to encrypt data moving between the client and the database.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 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 DVA-C02 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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Question Discussion
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