DEA-C01 Data Security and Governance Practice Question
A data engineer needs to ensure that all data in an S3 bucket is encrypted at rest. The bucket contains objects uploaded by various applications. What is the simplest method to enforce encryption for all new objects?
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
✓
Configure an S3 bucket policy that denies PutObject requests without the x-amz-server-side-encryption header.
An S3 bucket policy can deny PutObject requests that do not include the x-amz-server-side-encryption header, thereby enforcing encryption for all new objects. Option A is wrong because S3 Block Public Access does not enforce encryption. Option B is wrong because default encryption applies only if the upload request does not specify encryption headers; it does not enforce encryption for requests that specify 'None'. Option C is wrong because S3 Object Lock prevents deletion but does not enforce encryption.
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 S3 Block Public Access to block public access to the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
S3 Block Public Access controls public access, not encryption.
- ✗
Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket using S3-Managed Keys (SSE-S3).
Why it's wrong here
Default encryption applies only when no encryption header is specified; it does not enforce encryption for requests that explicitly set encryption to 'None'.
- ✗
Enable S3 Object Lock on the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
S3 Object Lock prevents object deletion or overwrite but does not enforce encryption.
- ✓
Configure an S3 bucket policy that denies PutObject requests without the x-amz-server-side-encryption header.
Why this is correct
A bucket policy can conditionally deny uploads that lack the required encryption header, enforcing encryption for all new objects.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
Go deeper
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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