- A
Create an IAM role that allows Lambda to access the RDS instance using IAM database authentication.
IAM database authentication allows the Lambda function to authenticate to the RDS instance using an IAM role, eliminating the need to store credentials. The Lambda function's IAM role must be granted the necessary permissions to use IAM auth for the database.
- B
Pass the database credentials as environment variables to the Lambda function.
Why wrong: Passing database credentials as environment variables is insecure because they can be exposed in logs or during function inspection. This does not follow security best practices.
- C
Store the database credentials in AWS Secrets Manager and retrieve them using the Secrets Manager API in the Lambda function.
AWS Secrets Manager provides a secure, auditable service for storing and automatically rotating database credentials. The Lambda function can retrieve the credentials at runtime via the Secrets Manager API, avoiding hard-coded secrets.
- D
Store the database credentials in AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store and retrieve them in the Lambda function.
Why wrong: AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store can store secrets, but it lacks native automatic rotation and is not the best practice for database credentials requiring rotation. Secrets Manager is preferred.
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 serverless application using AWS Lambda that needs to access a private Amazon RDS for MySQL database. The Lambda function is deployed in a VPC with the appropriate security groups. The database is in a private subnet. The company wants to avoid storing database credentials in the Lambda function code. What should the company do to securely access the database?
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
Create an IAM role that allows Lambda to access the RDS instance using IAM database authentication.
Both Option A and Option C are valid methods to securely access the database without storing credentials in code. IAM database authentication (A) allows the Lambda function to authenticate using its IAM role, provided the RDS instance is configured for IAM auth. Secrets Manager (C) stores credentials and supports automatic rotation. Option B exposes credentials, and Option D lacks rotation capabilities. Therefore, both A and C are correct for this scenario.
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.
- ✓
Create an IAM role that allows Lambda to access the RDS instance using IAM database authentication.
Why this is correct
IAM database authentication allows the Lambda function to authenticate to the RDS instance using an IAM role, eliminating the need to store credentials. The Lambda function's IAM role must be granted the necessary permissions to use IAM auth for the database.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Pass the database credentials as environment variables to the Lambda function.
Why it's wrong here
Passing database credentials as environment variables is insecure because they can be exposed in logs or during function inspection. This does not follow security best practices.
- ✓
Store the database credentials in AWS Secrets Manager and retrieve them using the Secrets Manager API in the Lambda function.
Why this is correct
AWS Secrets Manager provides a secure, auditable service for storing and automatically rotating database credentials. The Lambda function can retrieve the credentials at runtime via the Secrets Manager API, avoiding hard-coded secrets.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Store the database credentials in AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store and retrieve them in the Lambda function.
Why it's wrong here
AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store can store secrets, but it lacks native automatic rotation and is not the best practice for database credentials requiring rotation. Secrets Manager is preferred.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store (Option D) with Secrets Manager, but Parameter Store lacks native automatic rotation and is not the best practice for database credentials requiring rotation, making Secrets Manager the correct choice for this scenario.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS Secrets Manager integrates with RDS to automatically rotate credentials for MySQL, PostgreSQL, and other databases. When the Lambda function calls the Secrets Manager API (e.g., GetSecretValue), it uses the IAM execution role's permissions to decrypt the secret via AWS KMS. The retrieved credentials are then used to establish a connection to the RDS instance, ensuring that secrets are never stored in the function code or environment variables.
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.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
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: Create an IAM role that allows Lambda to access the RDS instance using IAM database authentication. — Both Option A and Option C are valid methods to securely access the database without storing credentials in code. IAM database authentication (A) allows the Lambda function to authenticate using its IAM role, provided the RDS instance is configured for IAM auth. Secrets Manager (C) stores credentials and supports automatic rotation. Option B exposes credentials, and Option D lacks rotation capabilities. Therefore, both A and C are correct for this scenario.
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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