- A
Use a bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject if the encryption condition is not met.
Correct. A bucket policy can deny s3:PutObject when the required encryption header is absent, enforcing encryption on all uploads.
- B
Configure default encryption on the bucket with SSE-KMS.
Why wrong: Default encryption automatically encrypts objects that lack encryption headers, but it does not deny uploads. Objects without headers will be encrypted, but the requirement is to deny such uploads entirely.
- C
Enable S3 Object Lock.
Why wrong: Object Lock prevents object deletion or overwrite for a specified period, but does not enforce encryption on upload.
- D
Use a CloudTrail trail to monitor uploads.
Why wrong: CloudTrail records API calls but does not enforce policies. It can be used for auditing, not prevention.
DVA-C02 Security Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of 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.
A company requires that all data in Amazon S3 be encrypted at rest using server-side encryption with a customer-managed KMS key. The developer needs to ensure that any object uploaded without the x-amz-server-side-encryption header set to aws:kms is denied. How can this be enforced?
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 a bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject if the encryption condition is not met.
Option A is correct because an S3 bucket policy with a condition that denies s3:PutObject unless the `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption` header equals `aws:kms` enforces server-side encryption with a customer-managed KMS key at the API level. This policy explicitly rejects any upload that does not include the required encryption header, ensuring compliance even if default encryption is bypassed or misconfigured.
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 bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject if the encryption condition is not met.
Why this is correct
Correct. A bucket policy can deny s3:PutObject when the required encryption header is absent, enforcing encryption on all uploads.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure default encryption on the bucket with SSE-KMS.
Why it's wrong here
Default encryption automatically encrypts objects that lack encryption headers, but it does not deny uploads. Objects without headers will be encrypted, but the requirement is to deny such uploads entirely.
- ✗
Enable S3 Object Lock.
Why it's wrong here
Object Lock prevents object deletion or overwrite for a specified period, but does not enforce encryption on upload.
- ✗
Use a CloudTrail trail to monitor uploads.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail records API calls but does not enforce policies. It can be used for auditing, not prevention.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse default encryption (which silently applies encryption but does not deny non-compliant uploads) with a bucket policy that actively denies requests, leading them to choose Option B as a simpler but ineffective solution.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, S3 bucket policies evaluate conditions against request headers using the `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption` condition key. To enforce a specific KMS key, you can combine this with `kms:EncryptionContext` or `kms:ViaService` conditions in the policy. A real-world scenario is a regulated environment like healthcare or finance, where auditors require proof that all data is encrypted with a specific customer-managed key, and the bucket policy acts as a guardrail to prevent non-compliant uploads.
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 DVA-C02 question test?
Security — This question tests Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject if the encryption condition is not met. — Option A is correct because an S3 bucket policy with a condition that denies s3:PutObject unless the `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption` header equals `aws:kms` enforces server-side encryption with a customer-managed KMS key at the API level. This policy explicitly rejects any upload that does not include the required encryption header, ensuring compliance even if default encryption is bypassed or misconfigured.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 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 11, 2026
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