The answer is that the security group for the Elastic Beanstalk environment no longer allows outbound traffic to the RDS database port. This is the most likely cause because a recent deployment can inadvertently reset or modify the environment’s security group rules, specifically the outbound rule that permits traffic to the RDS instance’s port. Even if the inbound rule on the RDS security group remains correct, the Elastic Beanstalk environment must be able to initiate outbound connections to the database; without that rule, the connection fails silently, turning the application health to 'Severe'. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how Elastic Beanstalk manages security groups during deployments and the common pitfall of assuming inbound rules alone guarantee connectivity. A frequent trap is focusing on the database endpoint or credentials when the real issue is a missing outbound rule on the application side. Memory tip: think “outbound to inbound” — the app must send traffic out before the DB can let it in.
DVA-C02 Troubleshooting and Optimization Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of troubleshooting and optimization. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 developer deployed a web application using AWS Elastic Beanstalk. The application uses an RDS MySQL database. After a recent deployment, the application's health status turned from 'Ok' to 'Severe'. The developer checks the environment events and sees that the database connection is failing. The RDS instance is in the same VPC and security group. The developer confirms that the database endpoint and credentials are correct. What is the MOST likely cause of the connection failure?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The security group for the Elastic Beanstalk environment no longer allows outbound traffic to the RDS database port.
Option B is correct because a recent deployment may have changed the environment's security group configuration, removing or modifying the inbound rule for the database port. Option A is wrong because the database endpoint is correct. Option C is wrong because the application is failing to connect, not failing to start. Option D is wrong because the RDS instance is in the same VPC, so it is not an internet routing issue.
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.
✓
The security group for the Elastic Beanstalk environment no longer allows outbound traffic to the RDS database port.
Why this is correct
A deployment can modify security group rules, blocking the connection.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The RDS database endpoint changed after the deployment.
Why it's wrong here
The endpoint does not change unless the instance is replaced.
✗
The RDS instance is not publicly accessible.
Why it's wrong here
The RDS instance is in the same VPC, so public access is not required.
✗
The application code is failing to start due to a bug.
Why it's wrong here
The issue is specifically a database connection failure.
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 DVA-C02 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.
Troubleshooting and Optimization — This question tests Troubleshooting and Optimization — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The security group for the Elastic Beanstalk environment no longer allows outbound traffic to the RDS database port. — Option B is correct because a recent deployment may have changed the environment's security group configuration, removing or modifying the inbound rule for the database port. Option A is wrong because the database endpoint is correct. Option C is wrong because the application is failing to connect, not failing to start. Option D is wrong because the RDS instance is in the same VPC, so it is not an internet routing issue.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?
Identify which DVA-C02 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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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