- A
Use AWS Certificate Manager to issue a certificate for the RDS endpoint
Why wrong: ACM certificates are not used for database connections.
- B
Set up a VPN connection between the EC2 instances and the RDS instance using an IPsec VPN
Why wrong: RDS does not support IPsec VPN; complexity is high.
- C
Place the EC2 instances and RDS in the same subnet and use a NAT gateway
Why wrong: NAT gateway does not encrypt traffic.
- D
Enable SSL/TLS on the RDS instance and configure the application to use encrypted connections
This encrypts data in transit with minimal latency.
Question 288 of 1,748
SCS-C02 Data Protection Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of data protection. 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 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 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
✓
Enable SSL/TLS on the RDS instance and configure the application to use encrypted connections
In a typical AWS environment, data in transit between an application and an RDS database can be encrypted using SSL/TLS. RDS for MySQL supports SSL/TLS connections. To meet the requirement, enable SSL/TLS on the RDS instance by downloading the certificate bundle and configuring the DB instance to require encrypted connections. Then, configure the application to use SSL/TLS when connecting to the database. This approach encrypts data in transit with minimal overhead compared to a VPN, which can introduce latency. Option A (using AWS Certificate Manager for the RDS endpoint) is incorrect because ACM is typically used for load balancers and CloudFront, not for direct database connections. While ACM can provide certificates for applications, RDS itself uses its own certificate authority for SSL/TLS. Option B (setting up an IPsec VPN) is unnecessary and adds complexity and latency without providing encryption specific to the database connection; SSL/TLS already meets the requirement. Option C (placing instances in the same subnet and using a NAT gateway) does not encrypt data in transit and increases latency via NAT gateway.
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
- ✗
Place the EC2 instances and RDS in the same subnet and use a NAT gateway
- ✓
Enable SSL/TLS on the RDS instance and configure the application to use encrypted connections
Why this is correct
This encrypts data in transit with minimal latency.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
Common exam traps
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.
Visual reference
Quick reference
VPN Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port | Encryption | Authentication | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEv2 / IPsec | UDP 500 / 4500 | AES-256 | Certificates / PSK | Site-to-site & remote access |
| SSL / TLS VPN | TCP 443 | TLS 1.3 | Certificates / MFA | Clientless remote access |
| L2TP / IPsec | UDP 1701 | AES (IPsec) | PSK / Certificates | Legacy remote access |
| WireGuard | UDP 51820 | ChaCha20 | Public keys | Modern high-performance VPN |
| PPTP | TCP 1723 | MPPE (weak) | MS-CHAPv2 | Legacy — avoid in production |
PPTP is considered insecure. IKEv2/IPsec and SSL VPN are the current recommended options.
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.
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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 — 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 — In a typical AWS environment, data in transit between an application and an RDS database can be encrypted using SSL/TLS. RDS for MySQL supports SSL/TLS connections. To meet the requirement, enable SSL/TLS on the RDS instance by downloading the certificate bundle and configuring the DB instance to require encrypted connections. Then, configure the application to use SSL/TLS when connecting to the database. This approach encrypts data in transit with minimal overhead compared to a VPN, which can introduce latency. Option A (using AWS Certificate Manager for the RDS endpoint) is incorrect because ACM is typically used for load balancers and CloudFront, not for direct database connections. While ACM can provide certificates for applications, RDS itself uses its own certificate authority for SSL/TLS. Option B (setting up an IPsec VPN) is unnecessary and adds complexity and latency without providing encryption specific to the database connection; SSL/TLS already meets the requirement. Option C (placing instances in the same subnet and using a NAT gateway) does not encrypt data in transit and increases latency via NAT gateway.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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