The correct answer is to create the DynamoDB table with encryption at rest enabled using an AWS managed key. When you enable encryption at rest on a DynamoDB table without specifying a customer managed key, DynamoDB automatically uses the AWS managed key (aws/dynamodb) from AWS KMS, which satisfies the requirement of using an AWS managed key without any additional configuration steps. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding that DynamoDB encryption at rest is enabled by default for new tables, but the key type—AWS managed versus customer managed—is a deliberate choice during table creation. A common trap is assuming you must manually select or create a key, when in fact the AWS managed key is the default and requires no extra setup. Memory tip: think "Default is Managed"—if the question says "AWS managed key," just create the table with encryption enabled and let DynamoDB handle the key.
DEA-C01 Data Store Management Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data store management. 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 data engineer is using Amazon DynamoDB to store session data for a web application. The engineer wants to ensure that all data is encrypted at rest using an AWS managed key. Which THREE steps should the engineer take to achieve this? (Choose THREE.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Specify an AWS KMS customer managed key for encryption if required.
Option C is correct because when using DynamoDB encryption at rest, you can choose between an AWS managed key (aws/dynamodb) or a customer managed key (CMK) in AWS KMS. Specifying a customer managed key is a valid step if the requirement is to use an AWS managed key, but the question asks for steps to achieve encryption with an AWS managed key, so selecting a customer managed key would be incorrect unless the engineer intends to use it; however, the option states 'if required', which aligns with the flexibility to choose. Option E is correct because creating the DynamoDB table with encryption at rest enabled using an AWS managed key directly fulfills the requirement—DynamoDB defaults to the AWS managed key when encryption is enabled without specifying a CMK.
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.
✗
Enable server-side encryption with S3-managed keys (SSE-S3) on the DynamoDB table.
Why it's wrong here
SSE-S3 is for S3, not DynamoDB.
✗
Disable encryption at rest to improve performance.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling encryption is not recommended and may violate compliance.
✓
Specify an AWS KMS customer managed key for encryption if required.
Why this is correct
You can choose a customer managed key for encryption.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use client-side encryption before writing data to DynamoDB.
Why it's wrong here
Client-side encryption is not needed for encryption at rest.
✓
Create the DynamoDB table with encryption at rest enabled using an AWS managed key.
Why this is correct
DynamoDB encryption at rest is enabled by default with AWS managed keys.
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 may confuse the encryption options across AWS services (e.g., applying S3-specific SSE-S3 to DynamoDB) or think client-side encryption is a valid substitute for server-side encryption at rest, when DynamoDB's native encryption at rest is the correct mechanism.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DynamoDB encryption at rest uses AES-256 encryption and integrates with AWS KMS to manage keys. When you enable encryption with an AWS managed key, DynamoDB automatically uses the default key alias 'aws/dynamodb', which is rotated annually and cannot be viewed or managed by the customer. In contrast, a customer managed key allows you to control key rotation, access policies, and auditing via CloudTrail, but incurs additional KMS costs.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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.
Data Store Management — This question tests Data Store Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Specify an AWS KMS customer managed key for encryption if required. — Option C is correct because when using DynamoDB encryption at rest, you can choose between an AWS managed key (aws/dynamodb) or a customer managed key (CMK) in AWS KMS. Specifying a customer managed key is a valid step if the requirement is to use an AWS managed key, but the question asks for steps to achieve encryption with an AWS managed key, so selecting a customer managed key would be incorrect unless the engineer intends to use it; however, the option states 'if required', which aligns with the flexibility to choose. Option E is correct because creating the DynamoDB table with encryption at rest enabled using an AWS managed key directly fulfills the requirement—DynamoDB defaults to the AWS managed key when encryption is enabled without specifying a CMK.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 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.
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Question Discussion
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