Quick Answer
The correct action is secretsmanager:GetSecretValue, as this is the specific permission required for a Lambda function to retrieve a secret from AWS Secrets Manager. When a Lambda function needs database credentials stored in Secrets Manager, its IAM role must include this action to call the GetSecretValue API, which returns the secret’s plaintext value. On the AWS Certified Database Specialty DBS-C01 exam, this tests your understanding of least-privilege IAM policies for serverless database access, often appearing in scenarios where a Lambda function connects to RDS or Aurora. A common trap is confusing GetSecretValue with kms:Decrypt—while KMS decryption may be needed if the secret uses a customer-managed KMS key, the primary action is always secretsmanager:GetSecretValue. Another pitfall is selecting secretsmanager:ListSecrets, which only lists secret names, not values. Remember: to get the secret value, you need GetSecretValue—think “Get the goods, not just the list.”
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 developer is writing an AWS Lambda function that needs to access a Secrets Manager secret to retrieve database credentials. The Lambda function has an IAM role. Which action must be allowed in the IAM policy?
kms:Decrypt
Why wrong: Needed if the secret uses a customer-managed KMS key, but not the primary action.
secretsmanager:PutSecretValue
Why wrong: PutSecretValue is for updating secrets.
secretsmanager:ListSecrets
Why wrong: ListSecrets only lists secret names, not values.
secretsmanager:GetSecretValue
This is required to retrieve the secret.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
secretsmanager:GetSecretValue
Option B is correct because 'secretsmanager:GetSecretValue' retrieves the secret. Option A is wrong because 'kms:Decrypt' may be needed if the secret is encrypted with a KMS key, but the primary action is GetSecretValue. Option C is wrong because 'secretsmanager:ListSecrets' only lists secrets, not retrieve values. Option D is wrong because 'secretsmanager:PutSecretValue' is for updating secrets.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
kms:Decrypt
Why it's wrong here
Needed if the secret uses a customer-managed KMS key, but not the primary action.
secretsmanager:PutSecretValue
Why it's wrong here
PutSecretValue is for updating secrets.
secretsmanager:ListSecrets
Why it's wrong here
ListSecrets only lists secret names, not values.
secretsmanager:GetSecretValue
Why this is correct
This is required to retrieve the secret.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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
Database Security — This question tests Database Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: secretsmanager:GetSecretValue — Option B is correct because 'secretsmanager:GetSecretValue' retrieves the secret. Option A is wrong because 'kms:Decrypt' may be needed if the secret is encrypted with a KMS key, but the primary action is GetSecretValue. Option C is wrong because 'secretsmanager:ListSecrets' only lists secrets, not retrieve values. Option D is wrong because 'secretsmanager:PutSecretValue' is for updating secrets.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This DBS-C01 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DBS-C01 exam.
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