- A
Enable encryption at rest on the DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) cluster.
Why wrong: DAX is a cache, not the primary storage; encryption at rest is for the table.
- B
Use client-side encryption before writing to DynamoDB.
Why wrong: Client-side encryption is an option but not necessary; server-side encryption is default.
- C
Ensure encryption at rest is enabled on the DynamoDB table (default).
DynamoDB encrypts at rest by default using AWS KMS.
- D
Enable DynamoDB Time to Live (TTL) to encrypt data.
Why wrong: TTL is for automatic deletion, not encryption.
Question 757 of 1,786
DynamoDB Encryption at Rest — Enabled by Default | AWS Data Engineer Associate Explained
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 is using Amazon DynamoDB to store session data for a web application. The data engineer needs to ensure that the data is encrypted at rest. Which action should the data engineer take?
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
✓
Ensure encryption at rest is enabled on the DynamoDB table (default).
Option C is correct because DynamoDB tables are encrypted at rest by default using AWS Key Management Service (KMS) with an AWS owned key. The data engineer does not need to take any additional action to enable encryption at rest, as it is automatically enabled for all new DynamoDB tables. This ensures that all data stored on disk, including the table's primary key, local secondary indexes, and global secondary indexes, is encrypted before being written to SSDs in AWS data centers.
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 on the DynamoDB Accelerator (DAX) cluster.
Why it's wrong here
DAX is a cache, not the primary storage; encryption at rest is for the table.
- ✗
Use client-side encryption before writing to DynamoDB.
Why it's wrong here
Client-side encryption is an option but not necessary; server-side encryption is default.
- ✓
Ensure encryption at rest is enabled on the DynamoDB table (default).
Why this is correct
DynamoDB encrypts at rest by default using AWS KMS.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable DynamoDB Time to Live (TTL) to encrypt data.
Why it's wrong here
TTL is for automatic deletion, not encryption.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume encryption at rest must be explicitly enabled or configured, when in fact DynamoDB enables it by default for all tables, leading them to incorrectly select client-side encryption or other unrelated options.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DynamoDB encryption at rest uses AES-256 encryption and integrates with AWS KMS to manage keys. By default, DynamoDB uses an AWS owned key (alias: aws/dynamodb), but customers can optionally use a customer managed key (CMK) for additional control, including key rotation and audit trails. A common real-world scenario is when compliance requirements (e.g., PCI DSS, HIPAA) mandate encryption at rest; in such cases, the data engineer should verify that the table is using encryption (which is on by default) and may choose to switch to a CMK for enhanced governance.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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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Data Store Management — study guide chapter
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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: Ensure encryption at rest is enabled on the DynamoDB table (default). — Option C is correct because DynamoDB tables are encrypted at rest by default using AWS Key Management Service (KMS) with an AWS owned key. The data engineer does not need to take any additional action to enable encryption at rest, as it is automatically enabled for all new DynamoDB tables. This ensures that all data stored on disk, including the table's primary key, local secondary indexes, and global secondary indexes, is encrypted before being written to SSDs in AWS data centers.
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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