- A
Launch an unencrypted RDS instance, then use AWS DMS to replicate data to an encrypted instance in another region.
Why wrong: DMS can migrate data but does not provide cross-region DR with automated backups.
- B
Launch an unencrypted RDS instance, then enable encryption using the AWS Console after creation.
Why wrong: RDS encryption can only be enabled at launch; cannot be added later.
- C
Launch an encrypted RDS instance using the default KMS key, then export the database to S3 and copy to another region.
Why wrong: Exporting to S3 is not a disaster recovery solution; lacks automated backups.
- D
Launch an encrypted RDS instance using a customer-managed KMS key. Enable automated backups and create a cross-region read replica.
Encrypted RDS supports encrypted backups and cross-region replicas.
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 security engineer is designing a solution to protect sensitive data in an Amazon RDS for MySQL database. The data must be encrypted at rest using a key stored in AWS KMS. Additionally, the database must support automated backups and cross-region disaster recovery. Which architecture meets these requirements?
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
Launch an encrypted RDS instance using a customer-managed KMS key. Enable automated backups and create a cross-region read replica.
Option B is correct because enabling encryption at rest for RDS automatically encrypts snapshots and backups, and cross-region read replicas can be created from an encrypted source. Option A is wrong because encrypting after creation is not directly supported; you would need to create a new encrypted instance. Option C is wrong because RDS does not support different KMS keys for the replica; it must use the same key or a replica key in the destination region. Option D is wrong because enabling encryption after creation is not supported without creating a new instance.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Launch an unencrypted RDS instance, then use AWS DMS to replicate data to an encrypted instance in another region.
Why it's wrong here
DMS can migrate data but does not provide cross-region DR with automated backups.
- ✗
Launch an unencrypted RDS instance, then enable encryption using the AWS Console after creation.
Why it's wrong here
RDS encryption can only be enabled at launch; cannot be added later.
- ✗
Launch an encrypted RDS instance using the default KMS key, then export the database to S3 and copy to another region.
Why it's wrong here
Exporting to S3 is not a disaster recovery solution; lacks automated backups.
- ✓
Launch an encrypted RDS instance using a customer-managed KMS key. Enable automated backups and create a cross-region read replica.
Why this is correct
Encrypted RDS supports encrypted backups and cross-region replicas.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SCS-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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Data Protection — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Data Protection — This question tests Data Protection — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Launch an encrypted RDS instance using a customer-managed KMS key. Enable automated backups and create a cross-region read replica. — Option B is correct because enabling encryption at rest for RDS automatically encrypts snapshots and backups, and cross-region read replicas can be created from an encrypted source. Option A is wrong because encrypting after creation is not directly supported; you would need to create a new encrypted instance. Option C is wrong because RDS does not support different KMS keys for the replica; it must use the same key or a replica key in the destination region. Option D is wrong because enabling encryption after creation is not supported without creating a new instance.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SCS-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This SCS-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 SCS-C02 exam.
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