- A
Use Server-Side Encryption with S3-Managed Keys (SSE-S3) and set key rotation policy.
Why wrong: SSE-S3 uses S3-managed keys that are automatically rotated, but you cannot configure the rotation schedule; it is not guaranteed to be annual.
- B
Use Server-Side Encryption with AWS KMS-Managed Keys (SSE-KMS) with automatic key rotation.
SSE-KMS allows you to enable automatic annual key rotation, meeting the requirement with low overhead.
- C
Use Server-Side Encryption with Customer-Provided Keys (SSE-C) and manually rotate keys.
Why wrong: SSE-C requires you to provide and manage encryption keys, increasing operational overhead. Manual rotation does not minimize overhead.
- D
Use Client-Side Encryption with KMS.
Why wrong: Client-side encryption adds complexity as the application must handle encryption and key management, increasing overhead.
DVA-C02 Security Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of 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 company stores sensitive data in Amazon S3. A developer needs to implement a solution that automatically encrypts objects at rest using a key that is rotated annually. The developer must minimize operational overhead. Which solution meets these requirements?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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 Server-Side Encryption with AWS KMS-Managed Keys (SSE-KMS) with automatic key rotation.
SSE-KMS with automatic key rotation meets the requirement for annual key rotation with minimal operational overhead because AWS KMS can automatically rotate the customer master key (CMK) every year (365 days) without any manual intervention. This ensures that objects in S3 are encrypted at rest using a key that is rotated on schedule, while the developer does not need to manage the rotation process.
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 Server-Side Encryption with S3-Managed Keys (SSE-S3) and set key rotation policy.
Why it's wrong here
SSE-S3 uses S3-managed keys that are automatically rotated, but you cannot configure the rotation schedule; it is not guaranteed to be annual.
- ✓
Use Server-Side Encryption with AWS KMS-Managed Keys (SSE-KMS) with automatic key rotation.
Why this is correct
SSE-KMS allows you to enable automatic annual key rotation, meeting the requirement with low overhead.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use Server-Side Encryption with Customer-Provided Keys (SSE-C) and manually rotate keys.
Why it's wrong here
SSE-C requires you to provide and manage encryption keys, increasing operational overhead. Manual rotation does not minimize overhead.
- ✗
Use Client-Side Encryption with KMS.
Why it's wrong here
Client-side encryption adds complexity as the application must handle encryption and key management, increasing overhead.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse SSE-S3's automatic key rotation (which is fixed at one year and not configurable) with the ability to set a custom rotation policy, leading them to incorrectly choose option A.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When using SSE-KMS with automatic rotation, AWS KMS creates new cryptographic material for the CMK each year, but the key ID remains the same, so existing encrypted objects remain decryptable. The rotation does not re-encrypt existing objects; it only affects new objects encrypted after the rotation date. For compliance scenarios requiring annual key rotation, this is a fully managed solution that integrates with S3 bucket policies and CloudTrail for auditing.
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 Server-Side Encryption with AWS KMS-Managed Keys (SSE-KMS) with automatic key rotation. — SSE-KMS with automatic key rotation meets the requirement for annual key rotation with minimal operational overhead because AWS KMS can automatically rotate the customer master key (CMK) every year (365 days) without any manual intervention. This ensures that objects in S3 are encrypted at rest using a key that is rotated on schedule, while the developer does not need to manage the rotation process.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
This DVA-C02 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 DVA-C02 exam.
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