DEA-C01 Data Security and Governance Practice Question
A data engineer needs to restrict access to an Amazon S3 bucket so that only objects encrypted with a specific AWS KMS key can be uploaded. Which S3 bucket policy condition should be used?
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
✓
s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id
The correct condition is s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id (option A). This condition key allows you to require that objects uploaded to the S3 bucket are encrypted with a specific AWS KMS key by checking the key ID used in the encryption header. Option B (kms:ViaService) restricts KMS key usage to specific AWS services but does not enforce a key ID on S3 objects. Option C (s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption) only checks whether server-side encryption is enabled, not the specific key. Option D (kms:EncryptionContext) is used to enforce encryption context, not the key ID.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id
Why this is correct
This condition key allows you to specify a required KMS key ID for server-side encryption.
- ✗
kms:ViaService
Why it's wrong here
This condition key limits KMS key usage to specific AWS services, not to a specific key for S3 uploads.
- ✗
s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption
Why it's wrong here
This condition key only enforces that encryption is used, not a specific key.
- ✗
kms:EncryptionContext
Why it's wrong here
This condition key enforces encryption context, not the KMS key ID.
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 |
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on DEA-C01
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. Refer to the exhibit. A data engineer reviews an Amazon S3 server access log entry for an object upload. The log shows a status of 200 and encryption status "AES256". The company policy requires that all data be encrypted with SSE-KMS. Which action should the engineer take to enforce this policy?
hard- ✓ A.Attach an S3 bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject unless the request includes x-amz-server-side-encryption: aws:kms
- B.Revoke the IAM role's s3:PutObject permission
- C.Enable AWS CloudTrail data events to monitor future uploads
- D.Enable S3 default encryption with SSE-KMS on the bucket
Why A: The log shows the object was uploaded with SSE-S3 (AES256), not the required SSE-KMS. To enforce the policy, the engineer should attach an S3 bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject unless the request includes the x-amz-server-side-encryption header set to aws:kms. Option D (default encryption) would encrypt new objects with SSE-KMS, but it does not block uploads that explicitly use SSE-S3; default encryption only applies when no encryption header is specified. Options B and C do not enforce the policy: revoking IAM permissions is too broad and CloudTrail only logs events.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.