- A
Enable default encryption on the DynamoDB table using SSE-S3.
Why wrong: SSE-S3 uses AWS-managed keys, not customer-managed, and does not provide customer control or audit of key usage.
- B
Use SSE-KMS with a customer-managed key and manually rotate the key every 90 days.
Why wrong: Manual rotation every 90 days is less secure and auditable than automatic rotation provided by SSE-KMS.
- C
Use SSE-KMS with a customer-managed key, enable automatic key rotation, and enable CloudTrail data events for the key.
SSE-KMS with customer-managed key and automatic rotation, combined with CloudTrail data events, meets the requirements for control and audit.
- D
Use client-side encryption with the AWS Encryption SDK.
Why wrong: Client-side encryption manages keys outside of AWS, preventing CloudTrail logging of key usage and central key management.
DBS-C01 Database Security Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of database security. 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 financial services company uses Amazon DynamoDB to store transaction records. The security team requires that all items be encrypted at rest using a customer-managed AWS KMS key. Additionally, the company must be able to audit key usage and rotation. What is the MOST secure and auditable approach?
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
Use SSE-KMS with a customer-managed key, enable automatic key rotation, and enable CloudTrail data events for the key.
Using a customer-managed KMS key with automatic annual rotation and enabling CloudTrail logging of key usage provides encryption control and auditing. Option A is wrong because SSE-S3 does not provide customer control or audit. Option B is wrong because manual rotation is less secure and auditable than automatic rotation. Option D is wrong because client-side encryption would require managing encryption keys on the client side, which does not leverage the AWS KMS infrastructure for automatic key rotation and auditing, and is not as integrated or auditable as server-side encryption with KMS.
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 default encryption on the DynamoDB table using SSE-S3.
Why it's wrong here
SSE-S3 uses AWS-managed keys, not customer-managed, and does not provide customer control or audit of key usage.
- ✗
Use SSE-KMS with a customer-managed key and manually rotate the key every 90 days.
Why it's wrong here
Manual rotation every 90 days is less secure and auditable than automatic rotation provided by SSE-KMS.
- ✓
Use SSE-KMS with a customer-managed key, enable automatic key rotation, and enable CloudTrail data events for the key.
Why this is correct
SSE-KMS with customer-managed key and automatic rotation, combined with CloudTrail data events, meets the requirements for control and audit.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use client-side encryption with the AWS Encryption SDK.
Why it's wrong here
Client-side encryption manages keys outside of AWS, preventing CloudTrail logging of key usage and central key management.
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 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.
Identify which DBS-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 DBS-C01 question test?
Database Security — This question tests Database Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use SSE-KMS with a customer-managed key, enable automatic key rotation, and enable CloudTrail data events for the key. — Using a customer-managed KMS key with automatic annual rotation and enabling CloudTrail logging of key usage provides encryption control and auditing. Option A is wrong because SSE-S3 does not provide customer control or audit. Option B is wrong because manual rotation is less secure and auditable than automatic rotation. Option D is wrong because client-side encryption would require managing encryption keys on the client side, which does not leverage the AWS KMS infrastructure for automatic key rotation and auditing, and is not as integrated or auditable as server-side encryption with KMS.
What should I do if I get this DBS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which DBS-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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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