Quick Answer
The correct answer is AWS Secrets Manager and AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store. AWS Secrets Manager is the native service designed specifically for securely storing and rotating secrets automatically, such as database credentials, without requiring custom infrastructure. Parameter Store, while also capable of storing secrets securely, does not offer built-in automatic rotation; you must implement custom logic or use EventBridge and Lambda to achieve rotation. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this distinction tests your understanding of which service provides native lifecycle management for secrets versus a general-purpose configuration store. A common trap is confusing KMS or IAM for secret storage—KMS handles encryption keys, not secrets, and IAM manages certificates and roles. Remember the memory tip: Secrets Manager is “set and forget” for rotation; Parameter Store is “store and script” for rotation.
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data security and governance. 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 needs to securely store and manage database credentials used by a data pipeline. Which AWS services can be used to store and rotate secrets automatically? (Choose TWO.)
AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store
Parameter Store can store secrets, but rotation requires custom setup.
AWS IAM
Why wrong: IAM manages users and roles, not secrets.
AWS Key Management Service (AWS KMS)
Why wrong: KMS manages encryption keys.
AWS CloudHSM
Why wrong: CloudHSM provides hardware security modules, not secret storage.
AWS Secrets Manager
Secrets Manager can automatically rotate secrets.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store
Options A and B are correct. AWS Secrets Manager can rotate secrets automatically. AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store can store secrets securely, but automatic rotation requires custom logic or integration. Option C is wrong because IAM stores certificates, not secrets. Option D is wrong because KMS is for encryption keys, not secrets. Option E is wrong because CloudHSM is for hardware security modules.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store
Why this is correct
Parameter Store can store secrets, but rotation requires custom setup.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AWS IAM
Why it's wrong here
IAM manages users and roles, not secrets.
AWS Key Management Service (AWS KMS)
Why it's wrong here
KMS manages encryption keys.
AWS CloudHSM
Why it's wrong here
CloudHSM provides hardware security modules, not secret storage.
AWS Secrets Manager
Why this is correct
Secrets Manager can automatically rotate secrets.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Identify which DEA-C01 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 Security and Governance — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Data Security and Governance — This question tests Data Security and Governance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store — Options A and B are correct. AWS Secrets Manager can rotate secrets automatically. AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store can store secrets securely, but automatic rotation requires custom logic or integration. Option C is wrong because IAM stores certificates, not secrets. Option D is wrong because KMS is for encryption keys, not secrets. Option E is wrong because CloudHSM is for hardware security modules.
Identify which DEA-C01 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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Same concept, more angles
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 wants to securely store database credentials used by a Lambda function. Which AWS service should be used to store and rotate the credentials automatically?
easyWhy B: AWS Secrets Manager is designed for storing secrets and provides automatic rotation. Systems Manager Parameter Store can store secrets but does not natively support automatic rotation for database credentials. KMS is for encryption keys, not storing secrets. CloudHSM is for hardware security modules.
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This DEA-C01 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 DEA-C01 exam.
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