- A
Use a customer managed CMK.
Why wrong: Actually, DynamoDB supports customer managed CMK; revisiting: Option D should be correct. Let's adjust: Options A, B, C are correct, D is also correct? The question asks for THREE. Valid methods: AWS-owned, AWS managed, customer managed. Client-side encryption is also valid. So we need to choose three. Let's set A, B, D as correct, C as incorrect? No, client-side is also valid. Let me re-evaluate: The question says 'valid methods to encrypt data at rest in Amazon DynamoDB'. DynamoDB supports server-side encryption with three types of keys: AWS-owned, AWS managed, customer managed. Client-side encryption is not encryption at rest in DynamoDB; it's encryption before data is sent. So I'll set A, B, D as correct. Option C is client-side encryption, which is not encryption at rest; it's encryption in transit or client-side. Option E is for S3. So correct: A, B, D.
- B
Use S3 server-side encryption.
Why wrong: S3 SSE is not applicable to DynamoDB.
- C
Use an AWS-owned CMK.
Default encryption uses AWS-owned keys.
- D
Use an AWS managed CMK.
You can select the AWS managed KMS key for DynamoDB.
- E
Use client-side encryption with the DynamoDB Encryption Client.
Client-side encryption is also supported.
DBS-C01 Database Security Practice Question
This DBS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of database security. 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.
Which THREE are valid methods to encrypt data at rest in Amazon DynamoDB? (Choose 3.)
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 an AWS-owned CMK.
Option C is correct because DynamoDB encrypts data at rest by default using an AWS-owned customer master key (CMK), which is a key managed by AWS on behalf of the customer. This key is used to protect the table data, backups, and replicas without requiring any customer configuration.
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 a customer managed CMK.
Why it's wrong here
Actually, DynamoDB supports customer managed CMK; revisiting: Option D should be correct. Let's adjust: Options A, B, C are correct, D is also correct? The question asks for THREE. Valid methods: AWS-owned, AWS managed, customer managed. Client-side encryption is also valid. So we need to choose three. Let's set A, B, D as correct, C as incorrect? No, client-side is also valid. Let me re-evaluate: The question says 'valid methods to encrypt data at rest in Amazon DynamoDB'. DynamoDB supports server-side encryption with three types of keys: AWS-owned, AWS managed, customer managed. Client-side encryption is not encryption at rest in DynamoDB; it's encryption before data is sent. So I'll set A, B, D as correct. Option C is client-side encryption, which is not encryption at rest; it's encryption in transit or client-side. Option E is for S3. So correct: A, B, D.
- ✗
Use S3 server-side encryption.
Why it's wrong here
S3 SSE is not applicable to DynamoDB.
- ✓
Use an AWS-owned CMK.
Why this is correct
Default encryption uses AWS-owned keys.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Use an AWS managed CMK.
Why this is correct
You can select the AWS managed KMS key for DynamoDB.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Use client-side encryption with the DynamoDB Encryption Client.
Why this is correct
Client-side encryption is also supported.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse server-side encryption options across AWS services, incorrectly assuming that S3 server-side encryption can be applied to DynamoDB, or they forget that client-side encryption is a valid method for encrypting data at rest in DynamoDB.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DynamoDB encryption at rest uses AES-256 encryption via AWS Key Management Service (KMS). When you enable encryption with an AWS managed CMK, DynamoDB creates a unique key for each table, while AWS-owned CMKs are shared across accounts. Client-side encryption with the DynamoDB Encryption Client encrypts data before it is sent to DynamoDB, ensuring that only the client holds the decryption keys, which is critical for compliance scenarios where the database operator must not see plaintext data.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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 an AWS-owned CMK. — Option C is correct because DynamoDB encrypts data at rest by default using an AWS-owned customer master key (CMK), which is a key managed by AWS on behalf of the customer. This key is used to protect the table data, backups, and replicas without requiring any customer configuration.
What should I do if I get this DBS-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 24, 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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