- A
Enable encryption at rest using the default DMS encryption settings.
Why wrong: DMS encryption at rest is for DMS internal storage, not S3; also does not meet customer-managed key requirement.
- B
Configure the S3 bucket to use server-side encryption with AWS KMS (SSE-KMS) using a customer managed key.
Customer managed keys allow the company to control the keys.
- C
Configure the S3 bucket to use server-side encryption with S3 managed keys (SSE-S3).
Why wrong: SSE-S3 uses AWS-managed keys, not customer-managed.
- D
Enable SSL/TLS encryption on the DMS source and target endpoints.
This encrypts data in transit between DMS and the databases/S3.
- E
Create an AWS KMS key and use it in the DMS endpoint to encrypt data in transit.
Why wrong: KMS keys are not used for transit encryption; SSL/TLS is used.
Quick Answer
The answer is to enable SSL/TLS encryption on the DMS source and target endpoints and configure S3 server-side encryption with a customer managed key (SSE-KMS). This combination satisfies the security team’s requirement for AWS DMS encryption at rest and in transit with custom keys because SSL/TLS protects data moving between the on-premises database, DMS, and S3, while SSE-KMS allows the company to control the encryption keys used for data at rest in S3, rather than relying on AWS-managed keys. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of DMS endpoint encryption options and the distinction between key ownership—a common trap is choosing SSE-S3 or default encryption, which use AWS-managed keys and fail the “customer managed” requirement. Remember the mnemonic “TLS for travel, KMS for keep” to quickly recall that in-transit encryption requires endpoint SSL/TLS, while at-rest encryption with custom keys demands SSE-KMS.
DEA-C01 Data Security and Governance Practice Question
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 company is building a data pipeline that ingests sensitive customer data from an on-premises database into Amazon S3 using AWS DMS. The data must be encrypted at rest in S3 and in transit. The security team requires that the encryption keys be managed by the company (not AWS). Which TWO actions should the data engineer take to meet these requirements? (Choose TWO.)
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 the S3 bucket to use server-side encryption with AWS KMS (SSE-KMS) using a customer managed key.
Option B is correct because SSE-KMS with a customer managed key allows the company to control the encryption keys used for S3 server-side encryption, meeting the requirement that keys be managed by the company, not AWS. Option D is correct because enabling SSL/TLS on both the DMS source and target endpoints ensures data is encrypted in transit between the on-premises database and AWS DMS, and between DMS and S3, satisfying the in-transit encryption requirement.
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 encryption at rest using the default DMS encryption settings.
Why it's wrong here
DMS encryption at rest is for DMS internal storage, not S3; also does not meet customer-managed key requirement.
- ✓
Configure the S3 bucket to use server-side encryption with AWS KMS (SSE-KMS) using a customer managed key.
Why this is correct
Customer managed keys allow the company to control the keys.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure the S3 bucket to use server-side encryption with S3 managed keys (SSE-S3).
Why it's wrong here
SSE-S3 uses AWS-managed keys, not customer-managed.
- ✓
Enable SSL/TLS encryption on the DMS source and target endpoints.
Why this is correct
This encrypts data in transit between DMS and the databases/S3.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create an AWS KMS key and use it in the DMS endpoint to encrypt data in transit.
Why it's wrong here
KMS keys are not used for transit encryption; SSL/TLS is used.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse encryption at rest with encryption in transit, and mistakenly think that KMS keys can be used for both, or that default DMS encryption or SSE-S3 satisfies the customer-managed key requirement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SSE-KMS with a customer managed key allows you to create, rotate, and disable keys via AWS KMS, providing separation of duties and compliance with regulatory requirements. DMS supports SSL/TLS for endpoint connections by configuring the sslmode parameter (e.g., 'require' or 'verify-ca') on both source and target endpoints, ensuring data is encrypted during transfer. Under the hood, DMS uses TLS 1.2 by default for secure connections, and the S3 target endpoint can be configured with an IAM role that grants access to the specific KMS key for decryption during writes.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DEA-C01 question test?
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: Configure the S3 bucket to use server-side encryption with AWS KMS (SSE-KMS) using a customer managed key. — Option B is correct because SSE-KMS with a customer managed key allows the company to control the encryption keys used for S3 server-side encryption, meeting the requirement that keys be managed by the company, not AWS. Option D is correct because enabling SSL/TLS on both the DMS source and target endpoints ensures data is encrypted in transit between the on-premises database and AWS DMS, and between DMS and S3, satisfying the in-transit encryption requirement.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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