- A
Use customer-provided keys (SSE-C) and store the keys in AWS Secrets Manager.
Why wrong: SSE-C requires you to provide the key with each request; key rotation would require updating the key in all applications.
- B
Configure a bucket policy to deny uploads that are not encrypted.
Why wrong: This policy enforces encryption but does not manage keys or rotation.
- C
Enable S3 default encryption using SSE-KMS with the customer managed key.
Default encryption ensures all new objects are encrypted with the KMS key.
- D
Use AWS Key Management Service (KMS) to create a customer managed key with automatic yearly rotation.
KMS allows automatic rotation every year, which meets the 90-day rotation requirement if set to yearly; however, the requirement is 90 days, so manual rotation or a custom solution may be needed, but KMS is still the right service.
- E
Use S3 managed keys (SSE-S3) for server-side encryption.
Why wrong: SSE-S3 uses Amazon-managed keys, not customer-managed keys.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to use AWS KMS with a customer managed key and enable automatic yearly rotation, combined with S3 default encryption using SSE-KMS. This works because customer managed keys in KMS give you full control over the key lifecycle, and while the default automatic rotation period is yearly, you can configure a custom rotation interval of 90 days to meet compliance requirements for PII data. Enabling S3 default encryption with SSE-KMS ensures every object written to the bucket is automatically encrypted with that key, satisfying the at-rest encryption mandate without relying on bucket policies or client-side key management. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the three SSE options and the distinction between customer-managed and AWS-managed keys—a common trap is confusing SSE-S3 (Amazon-managed keys, no rotation control) with SSE-KMS. Remember the memory tip: "KMS gives you the keys to the kingdom—custom keys, custom rotation."
DEA-C01 Data Operations and Support Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data operations and support. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 data engineer is designing a data lake on Amazon S3 that will be used for both batch processing with Amazon EMR and interactive queries with Amazon Athena. The data includes sensitive personally identifiable information (PII) that must be encrypted at rest. The company requires that the encryption keys be managed by the company and rotated every 90 days. Which TWO options should the engineer implement 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
Enable S3 default encryption using SSE-KMS with the customer managed key.
Option A is correct because AWS KMS allows you to create and manage your own customer managed keys, and you can set automatic key rotation every 90 days. Option D is correct because enabling S3 default encryption with SSE-KMS ensures all objects are encrypted using the KMS key. Option B is wrong because SSE-S3 uses Amazon-managed keys, not customer-managed keys. Option C is wrong because SSE-C requires you to manage the keys yourself, but you cannot use KMS for rotation; also, SSE-C is not recommended for this scenario. Option E is wrong because bucket policies do not enable encryption; they can enforce encryption but do not manage keys.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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 customer-provided keys (SSE-C) and store the keys in AWS Secrets Manager.
Why it's wrong here
SSE-C requires you to provide the key with each request; key rotation would require updating the key in all applications.
- ✗
Configure a bucket policy to deny uploads that are not encrypted.
Why it's wrong here
This policy enforces encryption but does not manage keys or rotation.
- ✓
Enable S3 default encryption using SSE-KMS with the customer managed key.
Why this is correct
Default encryption ensures all new objects are encrypted with the KMS key.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- ✓
Use AWS Key Management Service (KMS) to create a customer managed key with automatic yearly rotation.
Why this is correct
KMS allows automatic rotation every year, which meets the 90-day rotation requirement if set to yearly; however, the requirement is 90 days, so manual rotation or a custom solution may be needed, but KMS is still the right service.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- ✗
Use S3 managed keys (SSE-S3) for server-side encryption.
Why it's wrong here
SSE-S3 uses Amazon-managed keys, not customer-managed keys.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
- The first matching ACL entry is used.
- There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
- Check inbound versus outbound direction.
- Read the ACL from top to bottom.
- Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related DEA-C01 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
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Data Operations and Support — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DEA-C01 question test?
Data Operations and Support — This question tests Data Operations and Support — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable S3 default encryption using SSE-KMS with the customer managed key. — Option A is correct because AWS KMS allows you to create and manage your own customer managed keys, and you can set automatic key rotation every 90 days. Option D is correct because enabling S3 default encryption with SSE-KMS ensures all objects are encrypted using the KMS key. Option B is wrong because SSE-S3 uses Amazon-managed keys, not customer-managed keys. Option C is wrong because SSE-C requires you to manage the keys yourself, but you cannot use KMS for rotation; also, SSE-C is not recommended for this scenario. Option E is wrong because bucket policies do not enable encryption; they can enforce encryption but do not manage keys.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related DEA-C01 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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