SAA-C03 Design Secure Architectures Practice Question
A company wants to improve the security of its Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL database. They want to eliminate the need for storing database passwords in application code and simplify the management of database access for their EC2-based applications. Which solution should they implement?
⚠ Common exam trap
SAA-C03 often tests the distinction between eliminating static credentials entirely (IAM database authentication) and merely managing them more securely (Secrets Manager); candidates frequently pick Secrets Manager because it sounds like a best practice, but the question specifically asks to eliminate the need for storing passwords in application code, which IAM authentication does more directly.
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 the RDS instance to use IAM Database Authentication and assign a role to the EC2 instances.
IAM Database Authentication for RDS for PostgreSQL lets EC2 instances (or other AWS principals) authenticate to the database using short-lived authentication tokens generated from their IAM role credentials, so no static database password is ever stored in application code. The EC2 instance assumes an IAM role, and the RDS instance is configured to allow IAM authentication; the application then calls generate-db-auth-token (or the SDK equivalent) to obtain a 15-minute token used as the password. This eliminates password storage and centralizes access management through IAM policies, satisfying both the security and simplification goals.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Configure the RDS instance to use IAM Database Authentication and assign a role to the EC2 instances.
Why this is correct
IAM Database Authentication allows applications to connect to RDS using an authentication token generated by IAM. This method leverages the EC2 instance profile to provide the necessary permissions, ensuring that credentials are never stored in the code and are automatically managed and rotated by AWS.
- ✗
Use AWS Secrets Manager to store the RDS credentials and retrieve them at runtime.
Why it's wrong here
While Secrets Manager is a secure way to store and rotate credentials, it still involves the application managing a secret to access the database. IAM Database Authentication is often preferred for internal AWS-to-AWS communication as it removes the password entirely from the connection process, simplifying the architecture further.
- ✗
Enable SSL/TLS encryption for all database connections to protect the password in transit.
Why it's wrong here
Enabling SSL/TLS is a best practice for protecting data in transit, including passwords. However, it does not solve the problem of how the application obtains or manages the password itself. It is a complementary security measure rather than a replacement for password-based or IAM-based authentication methods.
- ✗
Store the database password in a private S3 bucket and allow the EC2 instances to read the file.
Why it's wrong here
Storing passwords in S3 files is an insecure practice as it still leaves a static credential in a retrievable format. It also creates a management burden for rotating the password and updating the file. This approach lacks the automated security and centralized control provided by IAM or Secrets Manager.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
About these practice questions
One of 149 original SAA-C03 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Amazon Web Services exam blueprint
This SAA-C03 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 SAA-C03 exam.