The correct answer is to create a new cluster and specify a customer-managed KMS key for encryption. This is required because Amazon Redshift only supports enabling encryption at the time of cluster creation; you cannot add or modify encryption on an existing unencrypted cluster, as the encryption configuration is baked into the cluster’s underlying hardware and metadata. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of Redshift’s immutable encryption architecture and the distinction between AWS managed and customer managed KMS keys. A common trap is assuming you can enable encryption on an existing cluster or that the default AWS managed key qualifies as customer managed. Remember the memory tip: “Encrypt at birth, not after birth”—once a Redshift cluster is born unencrypted, it stays that way, so always plan your customer managed KMS key during the initial launch.
DEA-C01 Data Security and Governance Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data security and governance. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 needs to ensure that an Amazon Redshift cluster encrypts data at rest using a customer-managed AWS KMS key. Which configuration step is required?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a new cluster and specify a customer-managed KMS key for encryption.
Option C is correct because Redshift supports encryption with KMS keys, but encryption cannot be enabled on an existing unencrypted cluster; a new encrypted cluster must be created. Option A is wrong because enabling encryption on an existing cluster is not supported. Option B is wrong because default KMS key is not customer-managed. Option D is wrong because CloudHSM is for hardware-based key storage, not KMS integration.
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.
✗
Create a new cluster and select the default AWS managed key for encryption.
Why it's wrong here
Default key is AWS managed, not customer-managed.
✓
Create a new cluster and specify a customer-managed KMS key for encryption.
Why this is correct
Encryption must be set at cluster creation with a KMS key.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use AWS CloudHSM to generate a key and attach it to the cluster.
Why it's wrong here
CloudHSM is not directly integrated with Redshift for encryption.
✗
Enable encryption on the existing cluster by modifying the cluster configuration.
Why it's wrong here
Redshift does not support enabling encryption on an existing unencrypted cluster.
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 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 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 — 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: Create a new cluster and specify a customer-managed KMS key for encryption. — Option C is correct because Redshift supports encryption with KMS keys, but encryption cannot be enabled on an existing unencrypted cluster; a new encrypted cluster must be created. Option A is wrong because enabling encryption on an existing cluster is not supported. Option B is wrong because default KMS key is not customer-managed. Option D is wrong because CloudHSM is for hardware-based key storage, not KMS integration.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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 data engineer needs to ensure that an Amazon Redshift cluster encrypts all data at rest. Which setting must be enabled when creating the cluster?
easy
A.Enable automated snapshots
✓ B.Enable encryption
C.Enable SSL/TLS
D.Enable VPC
Why B: Option B is correct. Redshift cluster encryption is enabled at creation. Option A is wrong because SSL is for in-transit. Option C is wrong because VPC is network isolation. Option D is wrong because automated snapshots are for backup.
Variation 2. A data engineer is setting up an Amazon Redshift cluster. Which TWO measures can be taken to secure the data at rest?
easy
✓ A.Enable encryption on the Redshift cluster using AWS KMS
B.Encrypt data on the client side before loading into Redshift
C.Enable AWS IAM database authentication
D.Use VPC security groups to restrict network access
✓ E.Use an HSM (Hardware Security Module) to manage encryption keys
Why A: Redshift supports encryption at rest using KMS or HSM. Cluster encryption can be enabled at launch. Client-side encryption before loading protects data before it reaches Redshift, but not necessarily at rest. VPC security groups control network access. IAM roles control who can access the cluster.
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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.
Question Discussion
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