The answer is deploying the SAP HANA instance in a private subnet and enabling encryption at rest for HANA data and log volumes using AWS KMS. Placing the database in a private subnet without direct internet access minimizes the attack surface by ensuring the HANA system is only reachable through controlled pathways like a bastion host or VPN, while KMS-managed encryption protects stored data from physical media compromise. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of the shared responsibility model and the specific security controls recommended for SAP HANA on AWS, often appearing as a two-correct-answer scenario where a common trap is selecting public subnet placement or neglecting log volume encryption. Remember the mnemonic “Private and Encrypted” to recall that network isolation and data-at-rest protection are the foundational pair for securing HANA workloads.
PAS-C01 Technology Practice Question
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of technology. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
Which TWO of the following are best practices for securing an SAP HANA database on AWS? (Choose two.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Deploy the HANA instance in a private subnet without direct internet access.
Deploying the HANA instance in a private subnet without direct internet access ensures that the database is not exposed to the public internet, reducing the attack surface. This follows the AWS security best practice of using private subnets for sensitive workloads, with access only through bastion hosts or VPN/Direct Connect. It also aligns with SAP's own security recommendations for HANA deployments.
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.
✓
Deploy the HANA instance in a private subnet without direct internet access.
Why this is correct
Private subnet reduces attack surface.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Disable SSL/TLS for client connections to improve performance.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling encryption exposes data in transit.
✗
Use a single Availability Zone to simplify network security group management.
Why it's wrong here
Single AZ does not provide redundancy and does not improve security.
✓
Enable encryption at rest for the HANA data and log volumes using AWS KMS.
Why this is correct
Encryption at rest protects data at the storage layer.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Assign a public IP address to the HANA instance for easy access from the internet.
Why it's wrong here
Public IP exposes the instance directly.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think disabling SSL/TLS improves performance (Option B) without recognizing that the performance gain is negligible compared to the catastrophic security risk, or they may incorrectly assume a public IP is acceptable for administrative access, overlooking the fundamental network isolation requirement for production databases.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Encryption at rest for HANA data and log volumes using AWS KMS leverages envelope encryption, where a CMK encrypts a data key that in turn encrypts the EBS volume. This ensures that even if an attacker gains access to the underlying storage, the data remains unreadable without the KMS key. In a real-world scenario, this is critical for meeting compliance requirements such as GDPR or SOC 2, where database contents must be protected at the storage layer.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Technology — This question tests Technology — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Deploy the HANA instance in a private subnet without direct internet access. — Deploying the HANA instance in a private subnet without direct internet access ensures that the database is not exposed to the public internet, reducing the attack surface. This follows the AWS security best practice of using private subnets for sensitive workloads, with access only through bastion hosts or VPN/Direct Connect. It also aligns with SAP's own security recommendations for HANA deployments.
What should I do if I get this PAS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which TWO of the following are best practices for securing an SAP system on AWS? (Choose two.)
easy
A.Store database credentials in plaintext in application configuration files
B.Disable AWS CloudTrail to reduce logs
✓ C.Use security groups to restrict inbound traffic to SAP application ports
D.Allow all inbound traffic from 0.0.0.0/0 for easy access
✓ E.Encrypt data in transit using TLS/SSL certificates
Why C: Security best practices include using security groups to control traffic (A) and encrypting data in transit using TLS (D). Setting inbound rules to 0.0.0.0/0 (B) is insecure. Storing credentials in plaintext (C) is bad practice. Disabling CloudTrail (E) removes auditing.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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This PAS-C01 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 PAS-C01 exam.
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