- A
Take a snapshot of the unencrypted instance, copy it with encryption, and restore.
This is a valid method to encrypt an existing database.
- B
Modify the DB instance to enable encryption after creation.
Why wrong: You cannot enable encryption on an existing unencrypted instance directly.
- C
Create a read replica with encryption enabled, even if the source is unencrypted.
Why wrong: Read replicas must have the same encryption as the source; if source is unencrypted, replica cannot be encrypted.
- D
Enable encryption on an existing read replica of an encrypted source.
If the source is encrypted, you can create an encrypted read replica.
- E
Enable encryption when creating the DB instance.
Encryption can be enabled at launch.
Question 898 of 1,748
SCS-C02 Infrastructure Security Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure security. 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 wants to encrypt data at rest for an Amazon RDS for MySQL DB instance. Which THREE options can be used to achieve this? (Choose THREE.)
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
✓
Take a snapshot of the unencrypted instance, copy it with encryption, and restore.
Option A is correct because you can take a snapshot of an unencrypted Amazon RDS for MySQL DB instance, create an encrypted copy of that snapshot, and then restore a new DB instance from the encrypted snapshot. This process effectively encrypts the data at rest, as the restored instance will inherit the encryption setting from the snapshot. AWS RDS does not allow enabling encryption on an existing unencrypted DB instance directly, so this snapshot-based approach is the standard workaround.
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.
- ✓
Take a snapshot of the unencrypted instance, copy it with encryption, and restore.
Why this is correct
This is a valid method to encrypt an existing database.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Modify the DB instance to enable encryption after creation.
Why it's wrong here
You cannot enable encryption on an existing unencrypted instance directly.
- ✗
Create a read replica with encryption enabled, even if the source is unencrypted.
Why it's wrong here
Read replicas must have the same encryption as the source; if source is unencrypted, replica cannot be encrypted.
- ✓
Enable encryption on an existing read replica of an encrypted source.
Why this is correct
If the source is encrypted, you can create an encrypted read replica.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Enable encryption when creating the DB instance.
Why this is correct
Encryption can be enabled at launch.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume you can enable encryption on an existing RDS instance via a simple modification (Option B), but AWS explicitly prohibits this, requiring a snapshot-based migration instead.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, RDS encryption uses AWS Key Management Service (KMS) to manage the master key for encrypting the underlying EBS volumes, automated backups, and snapshots. When you copy a snapshot with encryption, RDS creates a new snapshot encrypted with a KMS key, and restoring from that snapshot provisions a new DB instance with encrypted storage. This process is irreversible for the original instance, so planning encryption at launch is critical for compliance requirements like PCI DSS or HIPAA.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
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: Take a snapshot of the unencrypted instance, copy it with encryption, and restore. — Option A is correct because you can take a snapshot of an unencrypted Amazon RDS for MySQL DB instance, create an encrypted copy of that snapshot, and then restore a new DB instance from the encrypted snapshot. This process effectively encrypts the data at rest, as the restored instance will inherit the encryption setting from the snapshot. AWS RDS does not allow enabling encryption on an existing unencrypted DB instance directly, so this snapshot-based approach is the standard workaround.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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