- A
Configure the DynamoDB table to use a customer managed key from AWS KMS.
DynamoDB integrates with KMS for customer-managed keys.
- B
Use AWS CloudHSM to generate a key and import it into DynamoDB.
Why wrong: DynamoDB does not support importing keys directly; it uses KMS.
- C
Enable default encryption on the DynamoDB table using S3-managed keys.
Why wrong: DynamoDB uses KMS, not S3-managed keys.
- D
Use AWS Certificate Manager to issue a certificate and configure TLS.
Why wrong: ACM is for in-transit encryption, not at rest.
Question 1,062 of 1,786
DEA-C01 Data Store Management Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data store management. 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 stores critical financial data in Amazon DynamoDB. To meet compliance requirements, the data must be encrypted at rest with a customer-managed key. Which solution should the data engineer implement?
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 DynamoDB table to use a customer managed key from AWS KMS.
AWS DynamoDB integrates with AWS KMS to support encryption at rest using customer-managed keys (CMKs). By selecting a customer-managed key from KMS during table creation or via an update, the company can meet compliance requirements for controlling the encryption key lifecycle, including rotation and access policies. This approach ensures that the data is encrypted using AES-256 encryption, with the key material managed by the customer rather than AWS.
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.
- ✓
Configure the DynamoDB table to use a customer managed key from AWS KMS.
Why this is correct
DynamoDB integrates with KMS for customer-managed keys.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS CloudHSM to generate a key and import it into DynamoDB.
Why it's wrong here
DynamoDB does not support importing keys directly; it uses KMS.
- ✗
Enable default encryption on the DynamoDB table using S3-managed keys.
Why it's wrong here
DynamoDB uses KMS, not S3-managed keys.
- ✗
Use AWS Certificate Manager to issue a certificate and configure TLS.
Why it's wrong here
ACM is for in-transit encryption, not at rest.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse encryption at rest with encryption in transit (TLS) or assume that CloudHSM can be directly used with DynamoDB, when in fact DynamoDB only supports KMS for encryption at rest, and CloudHSM requires a custom integration layer.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When a DynamoDB table is configured with a customer-managed KMS key, the encryption is performed at the storage layer using envelope encryption: the KMS key encrypts a data key, which in turn encrypts the table data. This allows the customer to control key rotation (e.g., automatic yearly rotation via KMS) and to audit key usage via AWS CloudTrail, which is critical for compliance frameworks like PCI DSS or SOC 2. A subtle behavior is that once a table is created with a customer-managed key, the key cannot be changed to a different type (e.g., AWS-managed) without recreating the table.
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.
Quick reference
Symmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Size | Block Size | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AES-128 | 128-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | NIST approved; WPA3, TLS |
| AES-256 | 256-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | Preferred for sensitive / govt data |
| 3DES | 112-bit effective | 64-bit | Deprecated (2023) | Replaced by AES |
| DES | 56-bit | 64-bit | Broken | Cracked in < 24 h; never deploy |
| ChaCha20 | 256-bit | Stream cipher | Current | TLS 1.3, WireGuard |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DEA-C01 question test?
Data Store Management — This question tests Data Store Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure the DynamoDB table to use a customer managed key from AWS KMS. — AWS DynamoDB integrates with AWS KMS to support encryption at rest using customer-managed keys (CMKs). By selecting a customer-managed key from KMS during table creation or via an update, the company can meet compliance requirements for controlling the encryption key lifecycle, including rotation and access policies. This approach ensures that the data is encrypted using AES-256 encryption, with the key material managed by the customer rather than AWS.
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: Jul 4, 2026
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