- A
Attach an IAM policy to each role with kms:Decrypt permission
Correct. The IAM policy attached to the role must include kms:Decrypt to allow the role to decrypt using the key.
- B
Enable IAM policies in the key policy
Why wrong: Incorrect. Enabling IAM policies in the key policy is not a required step; the key policy itself must allow the IAM roles, but IAM policies are separate.
- C
Enable automatic key rotation
Why wrong: Incorrect. Automatic key rotation is a security best practice but not required for controlling decrypt access.
- D
Ensure the key policy allows kms:GenerateDataKey for the roles
Why wrong: Incorrect. kms:GenerateDataKey is used for encryption, not decryption. Therefore, it is not necessary for roles that only need to decrypt data.
- E
Add a statement to the KMS key policy allowing kms:Decrypt for the IAM roles
Correct. The KMS key policy must explicitly allow the IAM roles to perform kms:Decrypt. This is necessary because KMS key policies act as a resource-based policy that controls access to the key.
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 uses AWS KMS to encrypt data in multiple services. They want to ensure that only specific IAM roles can decrypt data using a particular KMS key. Which THREE steps are necessary?
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
Attach an IAM policy to each role with kms:Decrypt permission
To allow specific IAM roles to decrypt data using a KMS key, two steps are required. First, each role must have an IAM policy that grants the kms:Decrypt permission (A). Second, the KMS key policy must include a statement that allows the IAM roles to perform kms:Decrypt (E). The permission kms:GenerateDataKey (D) is not needed for decryption-only access; it is used for generating data keys during encryption. Options B (enabling IAM policies in key policy) and C (automatic key rotation) are unrelated to access control for decryption.
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.
- ✓
Attach an IAM policy to each role with kms:Decrypt permission
Why this is correct
Correct. The IAM policy attached to the role must include kms:Decrypt to allow the role to decrypt using the key.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable IAM policies in the key policy
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Enabling IAM policies in the key policy is not a required step; the key policy itself must allow the IAM roles, but IAM policies are separate.
- ✗
Enable automatic key rotation
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Automatic key rotation is a security best practice but not required for controlling decrypt access.
- ✗
Ensure the key policy allows kms:GenerateDataKey for the roles
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. kms:GenerateDataKey is used for encryption, not decryption. Therefore, it is not necessary for roles that only need to decrypt data.
- ✓
Add a statement to the KMS key policy allowing kms:Decrypt for the IAM roles
Why this is correct
Correct. The KMS key policy must explicitly allow the IAM roles to perform kms:Decrypt. This is necessary because KMS key policies act as a resource-based policy that controls access to the key.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which DEA-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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: Attach an IAM policy to each role with kms:Decrypt permission — To allow specific IAM roles to decrypt data using a KMS key, two steps are required. First, each role must have an IAM policy that grants the kms:Decrypt permission (A). Second, the KMS key policy must include a statement that allows the IAM roles to perform kms:Decrypt (E). The permission kms:GenerateDataKey (D) is not needed for decryption-only access; it is used for generating data keys during encryption. Options B (enabling IAM policies in key policy) and C (automatic key rotation) are unrelated to access control for decryption.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
Identify which DEA-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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