- A
Configure the Lambda function to access the VPC, and place it in the same subnets as the RDS instance.
Lambda can connect to resources in a VPC via an Elastic Network Interface (ENI) in the same subnets.
- B
Create a VPC endpoint for Amazon RDS and use it from Lambda.
Why wrong: VPC endpoints are for accessing AWS services like S3 or DynamoDB, not RDS instances.
- C
Use an AWS Network Load Balancer in front of the RDS instance and connect Lambda to the NLB.
Why wrong: NLB is not designed for database access; it adds unnecessary complexity and latency.
- D
Create a public endpoint for the RDS instance and allow Lambda to connect over the internet.
Why wrong: This exposes the database to the internet, which is insecure and against requirements.
Question 536 of 1,746
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 serverless application using AWS Lambda. The Lambda function needs to access an Amazon RDS database. The database is in a VPC without public internet access. What is the MOST secure way to allow 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 access the VPC, and place it in the same subnets as the RDS instance.
Option A is correct because placing the Lambda function in the same VPC subnets as the RDS instance allows it to communicate directly over private IP addresses using the VPC's internal routing. This eliminates exposure to the public internet and leverages security groups to control traffic at the instance level. Lambda functions must be configured with VPC access to connect to resources inside a VPC, and placing them in the same subnets ensures minimal latency and maximum security.
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 access the VPC, and place it in the same subnets as the RDS instance.
Why this is correct
Lambda can connect to resources in a VPC via an Elastic Network Interface (ENI) in the same subnets.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create a VPC endpoint for Amazon RDS and use it from Lambda.
Why it's wrong here
VPC endpoints are for accessing AWS services like S3 or DynamoDB, not RDS instances.
- ✗
Use an AWS Network Load Balancer in front of the RDS instance and connect Lambda to the NLB.
Why it's wrong here
NLB is not designed for database access; it adds unnecessary complexity and latency.
- ✗
Create a public endpoint for the RDS instance and allow Lambda to connect over the internet.
Why it's wrong here
This exposes the database to the internet, which is insecure and against requirements.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse VPC endpoints (used for API calls to AWS services) with database connectivity, leading them to incorrectly select Option B, or they overcomplicate the solution with a load balancer (Option C) when a direct VPC attachment is the simplest and most secure approach.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When a Lambda function is attached to a VPC, it uses an Elastic Network Interface (ENI) in the specified subnets, which allows it to communicate with RDS over private IP addresses using the VPC's route table. The Lambda function must have the same security group rules as the RDS instance to allow inbound traffic on the database port (e.g., 3306 for MySQL, 5432 for PostgreSQL). This setup also requires the Lambda function to have a VPC execution role with permissions to create and manage ENIs (ec2:CreateNetworkInterface).
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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Design for New Solutions — study guide chapter
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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 access the VPC, and place it in the same subnets as the RDS instance. — Option A is correct because placing the Lambda function in the same VPC subnets as the RDS instance allows it to communicate directly over private IP addresses using the VPC's internal routing. This eliminates exposure to the public internet and leverages security groups to control traffic at the instance level. Lambda functions must be configured with VPC access to connect to resources inside a VPC, and placing them in the same subnets ensures minimal latency and maximum security.
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
This SAP-C02 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 SAP-C02 exam.
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