- A
Encrypt the entire item client-side and use a secondary index on the encrypted keys.
Correct. Deterministic encryption of the entire item, including keys, allows a GSI on the encrypted keys to be searchable without storing plaintext keys.
- B
Use server-side encryption with a KMS key and enable DynamoDB Streams to decrypt on read.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Server-side encryption only protects data at rest; DynamoDB still stores keys in plaintext internally and applications can read them.
- C
Use client-side encryption to encrypt only the non-key attributes, leaving the partition and sort keys in plaintext.
Why wrong: Incorrect. This option stores partition and sort keys in plaintext, directly contradicting the requirement that they not be stored in plaintext.
- D
Use DynamoDB encryption at rest with a customer-managed KMS key.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Encryption at rest with a customer-managed KMS key does not prevent keys from being stored in plaintext; it only encrypts the data at the storage layer.
DBS-C01 Deterministic encryption Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of database security. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: deterministic encryption. 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 Amazon DynamoDB with a global secondary index (GSI) and client-side encryption using the AWS Encryption SDK. The security team requires that the partition key and sort key be searchable by the application but not stored in plaintext in the table. Which approach should be taken?
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
Encrypt the entire item client-side and use a secondary index on the encrypted keys.
The requirement is to prevent partition and sort keys from being stored in plaintext while still allowing the application to search by them. Option A achieves this by using client-side deterministic encryption (supported by the AWS Encryption SDK) for the entire item, which encrypts the keys. Because the encryption is deterministic, the same plaintext key always produces the same ciphertext, so a global secondary index can be built on the encrypted key attributes. The application encrypts the search key and queries the GSI using that encrypted value, enabling search without exposing plaintext keys. Option C leaves keys in plaintext, violating the requirement. Options B and D do not address client-side encryption and cannot prevent plaintext key storage in the database.
Key principle: Deterministic encryption
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Encrypt the entire item client-side and use a secondary index on the encrypted keys.
Why this is correct
Correct. Deterministic encryption of the entire item, including keys, allows a GSI on the encrypted keys to be searchable without storing plaintext keys.
Related concept
Deterministic encryption
- ✗
Use server-side encryption with a KMS key and enable DynamoDB Streams to decrypt on read.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Server-side encryption only protects data at rest; DynamoDB still stores keys in plaintext internally and applications can read them.
- ✗
Use client-side encryption to encrypt only the non-key attributes, leaving the partition and sort keys in plaintext.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This option stores partition and sort keys in plaintext, directly contradicting the requirement that they not be stored in plaintext.
- ✗
Use DynamoDB encryption at rest with a customer-managed KMS key.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Encryption at rest with a customer-managed KMS key does not prevent keys from being stored in plaintext; it only encrypts the data at the storage layer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often assume that partition and sort keys must be stored in plaintext to be indexed, but deterministic encryption allows indexed attributes to be encrypted while still supporting equality searches via a GSI.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Deterministic encryption
- Global secondary index (GSI)
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
Deterministic encryption
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
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Review deterministic encryption, then practise related DBS-C01 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DBS-C01 question test?
Database Security — This question tests Database Security — Deterministic encryption.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Encrypt the entire item client-side and use a secondary index on the encrypted keys. — The requirement is to prevent partition and sort keys from being stored in plaintext while still allowing the application to search by them. Option A achieves this by using client-side deterministic encryption (supported by the AWS Encryption SDK) for the entire item, which encrypts the keys. Because the encryption is deterministic, the same plaintext key always produces the same ciphertext, so a global secondary index can be built on the encrypted key attributes. The application encrypts the search key and queries the GSI using that encrypted value, enabling search without exposing plaintext keys. Option C leaves keys in plaintext, violating the requirement. Options B and D do not address client-side encryption and cannot prevent plaintext key storage in the database.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Review deterministic encryption, then practise related DBS-C01 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Deterministic encryption
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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