Quick Answer
The answer is AWS Secrets Manager. This service is the correct choice because it is purpose-built for securely storing database credentials and other secrets while offering native, automated credential rotation on a defined schedule, such as every 90 days. Unlike AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store, which lacks built-in rotation capabilities, Secrets Manager handles the entire lifecycle of a secret, including generating new credentials and updating the database without manual intervention. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of secure secret management versus other AWS security services like CloudHSM or IAM Roles, which do not provide automated rotation for database credentials. A common trap is confusing Parameter Store’s secure string parameter with Secrets Manager’s rotation feature—remember that Parameter Store stores values but does not rotate them. Memory tip: “Secrets rotate, Parameters store.”
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 data engineer needs to securely store database credentials used by a Lambda function. The solution must automatically rotate the credentials every 90 days. Which AWS service should the engineer use?
AWS CloudHSM
Why wrong: CloudHSM provides hardware security modules, not a managed secrets rotation service.
AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store
Why wrong: Parameter Store can store secrets but does not support automatic rotation.
IAM Roles for Lambda
Why wrong: IAM Roles grant permissions to Lambda but do not store database credentials.
AWS Secrets Manager
Secrets Manager provides automatic rotation of secrets.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
AWS Secrets Manager
Option D is correct because AWS Secrets Manager supports automatic rotation of secrets. Option A is wrong because Parameter Store does not natively rotate secrets. Option B is wrong because CloudHSM is a hardware security module, not a secret store with rotation. Option C is wrong because IAM Roles are for access to AWS services, not for storing database credentials.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
AWS CloudHSM
Why it's wrong here
CloudHSM provides hardware security modules, not a managed secrets rotation service.
AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store
Why it's wrong here
Parameter Store can store secrets but does not support automatic rotation.
IAM Roles for Lambda
Why it's wrong here
IAM Roles grant permissions to Lambda but do not store database credentials.
AWS Secrets Manager
Why this is correct
Secrets Manager provides automatic rotation of secrets.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
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
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DEA-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Data Security and Governance — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Data Security and Governance — This question tests Data Security and Governance — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
The correct answer is: AWS Secrets Manager — Option D is correct because AWS Secrets Manager supports automatic rotation of secrets. Option A is wrong because Parameter Store does not natively rotate secrets. Option B is wrong because CloudHSM is a hardware security module, not a secret store with rotation. Option C is wrong because IAM Roles are for access to AWS services, not for storing database credentials.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DEA-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
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 securely store database credentials for an RDS instance. Which TWO AWS services can be used?
easyWhy B: AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store can securely store secrets like database credentials. AWS Secrets Manager is designed specifically for secrets management and automatic rotation. Option C is wrong because CloudFormation is for infrastructure as code. Option D is wrong because KMS is a key management service, not a secret store (though it can encrypt secrets stored elsewhere). Option E is wrong because IAM is for identity management.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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.
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