- A
Store the credentials in AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store and use a scheduled job to update the password.
Why wrong: Parameter Store does not have native rotation; would require custom automation.
- B
Use Secrets Manager's automatic rotation feature with a custom Lambda function that updates the RDS password.
Secrets Manager can rotate secrets automatically with a Lambda.
- C
Create a scheduled Lambda function that updates the password in Secrets Manager and manually updates the application configuration.
Why wrong: Manual update of application config is not automatic and has overhead.
- D
Configure IAM database authentication for the RDS instance and update the application to use IAM credentials.
Why wrong: IAM auth does not rotate credentials automatically; tokens expire but need re-authentication.
Quick Answer
The correct choice is to use Secrets Manager’s automatic rotation feature with a custom Lambda function that updates the RDS password. This solution minimizes operational overhead because Secrets Manager natively handles the rotation schedule and invokes a Lambda function to connect to RDS, generate a new password, and update both the database and the secret in one automated workflow. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to automate RDS credential rotation with Secrets Manager while avoiding manual steps or misapplied services like IAM database auth or Parameter Store. A common trap is assuming IAM database authentication rotates credentials automatically, but it only replaces passwords with IAM tokens—it does not rotate the underlying secret. Remember the key distinction: Secrets Manager rotates secrets, Parameter Store does not. Memory tip: “Secrets rotates, Parameter stores—Lambda updates the RDS doors.”
DEA-C01 Data Security and Governance Practice Question
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 uses Amazon RDS for MySQL to store application data. The security team requires that all database credentials be rotated automatically every 90 days. The data engineer needs to implement a solution that minimizes operational overhead. The database credentials are stored in AWS Secrets Manager. The application retrieves the credentials at startup and caches them for the duration of the session. The application is deployed on Amazon ECS with Fargate. Which solution should the data engineer implement to meet the rotation requirement with minimal overhead?
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
Use Secrets Manager's automatic rotation feature with a custom Lambda function that updates the RDS password.
Option C is correct because Secrets Manager can automatically rotate secrets using a Lambda function that updates the RDS password. This minimizes overhead compared to manual rotation or changing IAM policies. Option A is incorrect because IAM database authentication is a separate feature that does not rotate credentials automatically. Option B is incorrect because manual rotation is operationally heavy. Option D is incorrect because Parameter Store does not have built-in rotation; it would require additional automation.
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.
- ✗
Store the credentials in AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store and use a scheduled job to update the password.
Why it's wrong here
Parameter Store does not have native rotation; would require custom automation.
- ✓
Use Secrets Manager's automatic rotation feature with a custom Lambda function that updates the RDS password.
Why this is correct
Secrets Manager can rotate secrets automatically with a Lambda.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create a scheduled Lambda function that updates the password in Secrets Manager and manually updates the application configuration.
Why it's wrong here
Manual update of application config is not automatic and has overhead.
- ✗
Configure IAM database authentication for the RDS instance and update the application to use IAM credentials.
Why it's wrong here
IAM auth does not rotate credentials automatically; tokens expire but need re-authentication.
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 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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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.
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Data Security and Governance — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DEA-C01 question test?
Data Security and Governance — This question tests Data Security and Governance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Secrets Manager's automatic rotation feature with a custom Lambda function that updates the RDS password. — Option C is correct because Secrets Manager can automatically rotate secrets using a Lambda function that updates the RDS password. This minimizes overhead compared to manual rotation or changing IAM policies. Option A is incorrect because IAM database authentication is a separate feature that does not rotate credentials automatically. Option B is incorrect because manual rotation is operationally heavy. Option D is incorrect because Parameter Store does not have built-in rotation; it would require additional automation.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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