The correct solution is to configure the database to require SSL/TLS connections and modify clients to connect using SSL. This works because encrypting data in transit for Amazon RDS is a two-part process: the RDS instance must be set to enforce encrypted connections—typically by setting a parameter like `require_secure_transport` for MySQL or `rds.force_ssl` for PostgreSQL—and every client application must be configured to use the SSL/TLS endpoint and trust the appropriate certificate. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding that encryption in transit is not automatic; a common trap is assuming that simply enabling encryption at rest or using a VPC alone protects traffic. Instead, remember that SSL/TLS must be explicitly enabled and enforced on both the server and client sides. A useful memory tip: think of it as a handshake—both sides must agree to speak TLS, or the connection is refused.
SCS-C02 Infrastructure Security Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure security. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 wants to ensure that all traffic to and from an Amazon RDS instance is encrypted in transit. Which solution should the security engineer implement?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure the database to require SSL/TLS connections and modify clients to connect using SSL.
Option B is correct because encrypting data in transit for Amazon RDS requires enabling SSL/TLS on the database instance and configuring client connections to use SSL/TLS. This ensures that all traffic between the client and the RDS instance is encrypted using TLS protocols, protecting against eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks. Amazon RDS supports SSL/TLS for all database engines, and you can enforce SSL connections by setting the 'require_secure_transport' parameter (MySQL) or similar parameters for other engines.
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.
✗
Enable encryption at rest using AWS KMS.
Why it's wrong here
Encryption at rest protects data stored on disk, not in transit.
✓
Configure the database to require SSL/TLS connections and modify clients to connect using SSL.
Why this is correct
SSL/TLS encrypts data in transit between the client and the RDS instance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use an S3 bucket policy to enforce encryption in transit for all S3 traffic.
Why it's wrong here
This applies to S3, not RDS.
✗
Use an AWS Transit Gateway to route traffic through a central VPC.
Why it's wrong here
Transit Gateway provides connectivity but not encryption.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse encryption at rest (KMS) with encryption in transit (SSL/TLS), leading them to select Option A, which does not address network traffic encryption.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When SSL/TLS is enabled on RDS, the database server presents a certificate (either AWS-provided or custom) that the client must validate. For MySQL, you can enforce SSL by setting the 'require_secure_transport' parameter to ON in the DB parameter group, which rejects non-SSL connections. In a real-world scenario, if you have a Lambda function connecting to RDS, you must include the CA certificate bundle (e.g., rds-ca-2019-root.pem) in the Lambda deployment package and specify 'ssl' in the connection string to ensure the connection is encrypted.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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.
Infrastructure Security — This question tests Infrastructure Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure the database to require SSL/TLS connections and modify clients to connect using SSL. — Option B is correct because encrypting data in transit for Amazon RDS requires enabling SSL/TLS on the database instance and configuring client connections to use SSL/TLS. This ensures that all traffic between the client and the RDS instance is encrypted using TLS protocols, protecting against eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks. Amazon RDS supports SSL/TLS for all database engines, and you can enforce SSL connections by setting the 'require_secure_transport' parameter (MySQL) or similar parameters for other engines.
What should I do if I get this SCS-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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Question Discussion
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