- A
Use client-side encryption with the KMS key before uploading to S3
Why wrong: Client-side encryption is not necessary; server-side encryption suffices.
- B
Configure the KMS key policy to allow the necessary AWS services to use the key for decryption
Services must have decrypt permissions to access the encrypted objects.
- C
Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket using SSE-S3
Why wrong: SSE-S3 uses AWS-managed keys, not customer-managed.
- D
Create a bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject if the object is not encrypted with SSE-KMS
This ensures all objects are encrypted with the required KMS key.
- E
Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket using SSE-KMS
SSE-KMS allows you to use your own KMS key for encryption.
Question 213 of 1,786
DEA-C01 Data Store Management Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data store management. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 sensitive data in Amazon S3. The security team requires encryption at rest and that the encryption keys are managed by the company using AWS KMS. The data is frequently accessed by multiple AWS services. Which THREE steps should be taken to meet these requirements?
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 KMS key policy to allow the necessary AWS services to use the key for decryption
Option B is correct because the security team requires that encryption keys be managed by the company using AWS KMS, and that multiple AWS services can access the data. To allow those services to decrypt objects encrypted with a customer-managed KMS key, the KMS key policy must explicitly grant the necessary AWS services (e.g., AWS Lambda, Amazon Athena) permission to use the key for decryption (kms:Decrypt). Without this policy, even if the bucket is configured for SSE-KMS, the services will fail to read the encrypted objects.
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.
- ✗
Use client-side encryption with the KMS key before uploading to S3
Why it's wrong here
Client-side encryption is not necessary; server-side encryption suffices.
- ✓
Configure the KMS key policy to allow the necessary AWS services to use the key for decryption
Why this is correct
Services must have decrypt permissions to access the encrypted objects.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket using SSE-S3
Why it's wrong here
SSE-S3 uses AWS-managed keys, not customer-managed.
- ✓
Create a bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject if the object is not encrypted with SSE-KMS
Why this is correct
This ensures all objects are encrypted with the required KMS key.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket using SSE-KMS
Why this is correct
SSE-KMS allows you to use your own KMS key for encryption.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
AWS often tests the distinction between enforcing encryption (bucket policy) and enabling access to encrypted data (KMS key policy), leading candidates to overlook the KMS key policy step when multiple services need to decrypt objects.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SSE-KMS uses envelope encryption: S3 requests KMS to generate a data key (via GenerateDataKey), encrypts the object with that data key, and stores the encrypted data key alongside the object. When an AWS service reads the object, it must call kms:Decrypt to unwrap the data key, which requires the KMS key policy to grant the service principal the kms:Decrypt permission. Additionally, the bucket policy in option D (deny s3:PutObject if not SSE-KMS) enforces encryption at upload time, but it does not control key management; it is a complementary step to ensure all objects are encrypted with SSE-KMS, but the key policy is the critical step for service access.
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
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
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 KMS key policy to allow the necessary AWS services to use the key for decryption — Option B is correct because the security team requires that encryption keys be managed by the company using AWS KMS, and that multiple AWS services can access the data. To allow those services to decrypt objects encrypted with a customer-managed KMS key, the KMS key policy must explicitly grant the necessary AWS services (e.g., AWS Lambda, Amazon Athena) permission to use the key for decryption (kms:Decrypt). Without this policy, even if the bucket is configured for SSE-KMS, the services will fail to read the encrypted objects.
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 30, 2026
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