What is a disadvantage of encrypting a database instance in AWS RDS?

When a database instance in AWS RDS is encrypted, one significant disadvantage is that the encryption state cannot be changed after it is set. This means that if you initially create an RDS instance without encryption, you cannot later enable encryption on that same instance. Instead, the only way to have an encrypted instance is to create a new instance with encryption enabled and then migrate your data to the new instance. This limitation can add complexity to database management, especially in scenarios where encryption becomes a compliance requirement after the initial deployment.

Thus, the inability to alter the encryption state directly impacts the flexibility and adaptability of database management within AWS RDS, making it a relevant concern for developers and database administrators when planning their database security strategy.