CLF-C02 - Security and Compliance - Section 2.1

Understand the AWS shared responsibility model and how responsibility for security shifts between the customer and AWS depending on the service used, such as Amazon EC2, Amazon RDS and AWS Lambda.

Understand that AWS secures the underlying cloud infrastructure while customers secure what they deploy within it, and that this boundary shifts by service type. Distinguish customer obligations for Amazon EC2, such as OS patching, from managed services like Amazon RDS and AWS Lambda, where AWS assumes more operational responsibility.

Shared responsibility modelCustomer responsibilitiesAWS responsibilitiesManaged service boundary

Practice question for this objective

Free sampleSecurity and Compliancemedium

A team migrates a self-managed database running on Amazon EC2 to Amazon RDS so that AWS manages more of the stack. Which TWO security responsibilities move from the customer to AWS as a result of using this managed service? (Select TWO.)

  • APatching the underlying database engine software and the host operating system it runs on Correct
  • BGranting and reviewing the IAM permissions that decide who may connect to the database
  • CMaintaining the physical servers and the underlying infrastructure that the database runs on Correct
  • DConfiguring which network sources are permitted to reach the database over the network
  • EClassifying the stored data and deciding which records require encryption at rest
Moving to a managed service such as Amazon RDS shifts engine and operating system patching plus host maintenance to AWS, while data and access stay with the customer. Amazon RDS is a managed service, so AWS takes over the operating system and database engine patching and the host infrastructure that the customer managed under Amazon EC2, while identity, network and data responsibilities still belong to the customer.

Why A is correct: With Amazon RDS, AWS handles patching of the database engine and the host operating system that the customer previously maintained themselves.

Why B is wrong: This seems handed over, but managing identity and access permissions remains a customer responsibility on any AWS service, including Amazon RDS.

Why C is correct: Maintaining the host hardware and supporting infrastructure is security of the cloud, which AWS performs for the managed Amazon RDS service.

Why D is wrong: Network access controls such as security groups stay with the customer, who still decides which sources may reach the database.

Why E is wrong: Data classification and the decision to encrypt remain customer duties, because only the customer understands the sensitivity of its own data.

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