- A
Enable RDS encryption at rest using AWS KMS, and use client-side encryption for data in transit.
Why wrong: Client-side encryption is unnecessary and adds complexity; RDS supports SSL/TLS for in-transit encryption.
- B
Use an AWS KMS key to encrypt the RDS instance, and configure the DB instance to use SSL/TLS for connections.
Why wrong: KMS is used by RDS encryption, but the option mentions 'use an AWS KMS key' separately; RDS encryption is enabled at instance creation.
- C
Store the data in Amazon S3 with server-side encryption, and use an RDS database for metadata only.
Why wrong: This does not address the requirement to store data in RDS; it suggests a different architecture.
- D
Enable encryption at rest for the RDS instance, and enforce SSL/TLS connections by setting the rds.force_ssl parameter to 1.
RDS encryption at rest is enabled with a single checkbox; SSL/TLS is enforced via parameter group. Automated backups are enabled by default with 35-day retention.
SAP-C02 Design for New Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design for new solutions. 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 is designing a new application that will store sensitive user data in an Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL database. The data must be encrypted at rest and in transit. The company also requires automated backups with a retention period of 35 days. What is the MOST secure and cost-effective configuration?
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
Enable encryption at rest for the RDS instance, and enforce SSL/TLS connections by setting the rds.force_ssl parameter to 1.
Option D is correct because it uses AWS KMS to encrypt the RDS for PostgreSQL instance at rest and enforces encryption in transit by setting the `rds.force_ssl` parameter to 1, which requires all connections to use SSL/TLS. This satisfies both encryption requirements while leveraging RDS automated backups (retention up to 35 days) at no additional cost beyond standard backup storage, making it the most secure and cost-effective configuration.
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.
- ✗
Enable RDS encryption at rest using AWS KMS, and use client-side encryption for data in transit.
Why it's wrong here
Client-side encryption is unnecessary and adds complexity; RDS supports SSL/TLS for in-transit encryption.
- ✗
Use an AWS KMS key to encrypt the RDS instance, and configure the DB instance to use SSL/TLS for connections.
Why it's wrong here
KMS is used by RDS encryption, but the option mentions 'use an AWS KMS key' separately; RDS encryption is enabled at instance creation.
- ✗
Store the data in Amazon S3 with server-side encryption, and use an RDS database for metadata only.
Why it's wrong here
This does not address the requirement to store data in RDS; it suggests a different architecture.
- ✓
Enable encryption at rest for the RDS instance, and enforce SSL/TLS connections by setting the rds.force_ssl parameter to 1.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume simply enabling SSL/TLS on the RDS instance (Option B) is sufficient for in-transit encryption, but they overlook the need to enforce it via the `rds.force_ssl` parameter to prevent unencrypted connections from being accepted.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When `rds.force_ssl` is set to 1 in the RDS PostgreSQL parameter group, the server rejects any non-SSL connections by requiring the `sslmode=require` (or higher) in the client connection string, effectively enforcing TLS 1.2+ for all traffic. RDS automated backups are stored in S3 and encrypted using the same KMS key as the DB instance, ensuring backup data is also encrypted at rest without additional configuration. The 35-day retention period is the maximum supported by RDS automated backups, and it incurs only the cost of the backup storage (which is typically lower than manual snapshot costs).
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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 |
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
Design for New Solutions — This question tests Design for New Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable encryption at rest for the RDS instance, and enforce SSL/TLS connections by setting the rds.force_ssl parameter to 1. — Option D is correct because it uses AWS KMS to encrypt the RDS for PostgreSQL instance at rest and enforces encryption in transit by setting the `rds.force_ssl` parameter to 1, which requires all connections to use SSL/TLS. This satisfies both encryption requirements while leveraging RDS automated backups (retention up to 35 days) at no additional cost beyond standard backup storage, making it the most secure and cost-effective configuration.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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