The answer is to enable SSL/TLS on the RDS instance and configure the application to use encrypted connections. This directly encrypts EC2 to RDS traffic in transit by establishing a TLS handshake between the MySQL client on the EC2 instance and the RDS database server, ensuring all data moving across the network is protected from eavesdropping. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of native encryption options for database connections versus network-layer solutions; a common trap is assuming you need a VPN or NAT gateway, but those add unnecessary latency and complexity. Remember that RDS supports SSL/TLS natively without extra infrastructure, and the key is to enforce the encrypted connection on the application side using the appropriate connection string parameters. Memory tip: "SSL on RDS, not IPSec on EC2" — keep the encryption at the database layer, not the network layer.
SCS-C02 Data Protection Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of data protection. 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.
A company runs a web application on Amazon EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer. The application uses an Amazon RDS for MySQL database. The security team requires that all data in transit between the EC2 instances and the database be encrypted. The database is in a private subnet. The EC2 instances are in a public subnet. The security team also wants to minimize latency. What should be done to meet these requirements?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable SSL/TLS on the RDS instance and configure the application to use encrypted connections
Option B is correct because enabling SSL/TLS on the RDS instance and requiring encrypted connections from the application encrypts data in transit. Option A is wrong because RDS does not natively support IPsecVPN. Option C is wrong because using a NATgateway adds latency and does not encrypt the database connection. Option D is wrong because AWS Certificate Manager is for load balancers and CloudFront, not for database connections.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Use AWS Certificate Manager to issue a certificate for the RDS endpoint
Why it's wrong here
ACM certificates are not used for database connections.
✗
Set up a VPN connection between the EC2 instances and the RDS instance using an IPsec VPN
Why it's wrong here
RDS does not support IPsecVPN; complexity is high.
✗
Place the EC2 instances and RDS in the same subnet and use a NAT gateway
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
→Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
→Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
→Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related SCS-C02 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Data Protection — This question tests Data Protection — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable SSL/TLS on the RDS instance and configure the application to use encrypted connections — Option B is correct because enabling SSL/TLS on the RDS instance and requiring encrypted connections from the application encrypts data in transit. Option A is wrong because RDS does not natively support IPsec VPN. Option C is wrong because using a NAT gateway adds latency and does not encrypt the database connection. Option D is wrong because AWS Certificate Manager is for load balancers and CloudFront, not for database connections.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related SCS-C02 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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Question Discussion
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