- A
Create an encrypted read replica of the RDS instance and use the replica for backups.
Why wrong: Read replica encryption does not affect the source instance or its backups.
- B
Use S3 server-side encryption with a customer managed key for automated backups. Configure lifecycle policies to rotate the key.
Why wrong: RDS backups are stored in S3, but you cannot directly apply S3 encryption keys to RDS backups.
- C
Enable encryption at rest on the RDS instance using an AWS managed KMS key. The key will be rotated automatically every year.
Why wrong: AWS managed keys rotate automatically, but the rotation schedule is not customizable and may not align with compliance.
- D
Enable encryption at rest on the RDS instance using a customer managed KMS key. Enable automatic key rotation in KMS.
Customer managed KMS key allows you to enable automatic annual rotation.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to enable encryption at rest on the RDS instance using a customer-managed KMS key and then enable automatic key rotation in KMS. This works because RDS backup encryption with automatic key rotation is fully supported when you use a customer-managed KMS key; manual snapshots and automated backups inherit the same encryption key from the source instance, and KMS can rotate that key annually on your schedule. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding that AWS managed keys rotate automatically every year but cannot be controlled by the customer, making them unsuitable for compliance-driven annual rotation requirements. A common trap is assuming you can rotate keys by enabling encryption on a read replica or using S3 server-side encryption, but neither encrypts the source RDS backups. Memory tip: “Customer key, custom rotation—AWS managed keys are on autopilot, not your schedule.”
SCS-C02 Data Protection Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of data protection. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 is designing a data protection strategy for its Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL database. The database contains sensitive customer data. Compliance requirements mandate that all backups be encrypted at rest and that the encryption keys be rotated annually. Which solution 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
Enable encryption at rest on the RDS instance using a customer managed KMS key. Enable automatic key rotation in KMS.
Option A is correct because enabling encryption on the RDS instance uses KMS, and manual snapshots inherit the same KMS key. Key rotation can be enabled in KMS. Option B is wrong because AWS managed keys cannot be rotated on a custom schedule; they rotate automatically every year, but the customer cannot control the rotation. Option C is wrong because S3 server-side encryption does not apply to RDS backups. Option D is wrong because enabling encryption on a read replica does not encrypt the source instance backups.
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.
- ✗
Create an encrypted read replica of the RDS instance and use the replica for backups.
Why it's wrong here
Read replica encryption does not affect the source instance or its backups.
- ✗
Use S3 server-side encryption with a customer managed key for automated backups. Configure lifecycle policies to rotate the key.
Why it's wrong here
RDS backups are stored in S3, but you cannot directly apply S3 encryption keys to RDS backups.
- ✗
Enable encryption at rest on the RDS instance using an AWS managed KMS key. The key will be rotated automatically every year.
Why it's wrong here
AWS managed keys rotate automatically, but the rotation schedule is not customizable and may not align with compliance.
- ✓
Enable encryption at rest on the RDS instance using a customer managed KMS key. Enable automatic key rotation in KMS.
Why this is correct
Customer managed KMS key allows you to enable automatic annual rotation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 SCS-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
- →
Data Protection — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Data Protection practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
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AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 study guide
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Data Protection — This question tests Data Protection — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable encryption at rest on the RDS instance using a customer managed KMS key. Enable automatic key rotation in KMS. — Option A is correct because enabling encryption on the RDS instance uses KMS, and manual snapshots inherit the same KMS key. Key rotation can be enabled in KMS. Option B is wrong because AWS managed keys cannot be rotated on a custom schedule; they rotate automatically every year, but the customer cannot control the rotation. Option C is wrong because S3 server-side encryption does not apply to RDS backups. Option D is wrong because enabling encryption on a read replica does not encrypt the source instance backups.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Identify which SCS-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on SCS-C02
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. A company is designing a data protection strategy for an Amazon RDS for MySQL database. The database is 2 TB in size and stores financial data. The compliance team requires that database snapshots be encrypted at rest and that encryption keys be rotated every year. Which solution meets these requirements with the LEAST operational overhead?
hard- A.Copy each snapshot to a new snapshot encrypted with a new KMS key
- B.Export snapshots to S3 and use S3 Batch Operations to re-encrypt them
- C.Use a different KMS key for each snapshot and rotate the key manually
- ✓ D.Enable automatic key rotation in AWS KMS for the KMS key used for RDS encryption
Why D: Option C is correct because enabling automatic key rotation in KMS once a year rotates the backing key, and snapshots are encrypted with the key. Option A is wrong because manual snapshot export is complex. Option B is wrong because separate keys for each snapshot add overhead. Option D is wrong because copying snapshots with a new key is manual and time-consuming.
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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