- A
Configure the Lambda function to run in the same VPC, subnets, and security group as the RDS instance.
This allows Lambda to connect to RDS over the network. The security group must allow inbound from Lambda's security group.
- B
Use a NAT Gateway to allow Lambda to access RDS through the internet.
Why wrong: NAT Gateway is for outbound internet, not for inbound to RDS; also adds latency and cost.
- C
Assign an IAM role that allows Lambda to access RDS and configure the security group to allow traffic from the Lambda service.
Why wrong: IAM controls permissions but does not provide network access; Lambda must be in the VPC.
- D
Attach an Elastic Network Interface (ENI) to the Lambda function in the same subnet as the RDS instance.
Why wrong: Lambda automatically manages ENIs via VPC configuration; you cannot attach ENIs directly.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to configure the Lambda function to run in the same VPC, subnets, and security group as the RDS instance. This works because placing the Lambda function inside the same VPC and subnets ensures it has direct network path to the RDS database without traversing the internet, while sharing the security group allows the database to accept inbound traffic from the Lambda function via a self-referencing rule or by explicitly opening the database port (e.g., 3306 for MySQL). On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of VPC networking fundamentals and Lambda’s ENI-based connectivity model—a common trap is assuming Lambda can access RDS by default when both are in the same VPC, but Lambda must be explicitly VPC-enabled. Remember the mnemonic “Same VPC, Same Subnet, Same SG” to recall the three configuration pillars for Lambda to access RDS in a VPC.
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 building a serverless application using AWS Lambda. The function needs to access a private Amazon RDS MySQL database. The Lambda function and the RDS instance are in the same VPC. What is the correct way to configure the Lambda function to connect to 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
Configure the Lambda function to run in the same VPC, subnets, and security group as the RDS instance.
Option A is correct because Lambda functions in a VPC must be configured with the same VPC, subnets, and security group as the RDS instance to establish direct network connectivity. By placing the Lambda function in the same security group, you can allow inbound traffic from the security group itself (self-referencing rule) or explicitly open the database port (e.g., 3306 for MySQL) to the Lambda's security group. This ensures traffic stays within the VPC and does not traverse the internet, meeting security and latency requirements.
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.
- ✓
Configure the Lambda function to run in the same VPC, subnets, and security group as the RDS instance.
Why this is correct
This allows Lambda to connect to RDS over the network. The security group must allow inbound from Lambda's security group.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use a NAT Gateway to allow Lambda to access RDS through the internet.
- ✗
Assign an IAM role that allows Lambda to access RDS and configure the security group to allow traffic from the Lambda service.
Why it's wrong here
IAM controls permissions but does not provide network access; Lambda must be in the VPC.
- ✗
Attach an Elastic Network Interface (ENI) to the Lambda function in the same subnet as the RDS instance.
Why it's wrong here
Lambda automatically manages ENIs via VPC configuration; you cannot attach ENIs directly.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume IAM roles or NAT Gateways provide network access, but AWS Lambda requires explicit VPC configuration with subnets and security groups to route traffic to private resources like RDS within the same VPC.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When you configure a Lambda function with VPC settings, Lambda creates an Elastic Network Interface (ENI) in each specified subnet using a Hyperplane ENI, which allows the function to have a private IP address within the VPC. The security group assigned to the Lambda function controls inbound and outbound traffic; for RDS access, you typically add a self-referencing rule or allow the Lambda security group as a source on the RDS security group. This setup ensures that traffic uses the VPC's internal routing and does not require an internet gateway or NAT Gateway, which is critical for compliance and low-latency database operations.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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: Configure the Lambda function to run in the same VPC, subnets, and security group as the RDS instance. — Option A is correct because Lambda functions in a VPC must be configured with the same VPC, subnets, and security group as the RDS instance to establish direct network connectivity. By placing the Lambda function in the same security group, you can allow inbound traffic from the security group itself (self-referencing rule) or explicitly open the database port (e.g., 3306 for MySQL) to the Lambda's security group. This ensures traffic stays within the VPC and does not traverse the internet, meeting security and latency requirements.
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: Jun 24, 2026
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