Quick Answer
The answer is AWS Secrets Manager and AWS Lambda. Secrets Manager is the correct service because it is purpose-built for securely storing, retrieving, and automatically rotating database credentials, and it integrates natively with Lambda to perform the rotation logic via a scheduled rotation function. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this pairing tests your understanding of how to automate credential lifecycle management without hardcoding secrets or managing rotation schedules manually. A common trap is choosing AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store, which can store secrets but lacks built-in automatic rotation; Secrets Manager’s rotation feature is the key differentiator. To remember this, think of the mnemonic “Secrets Rotate with Lambda” — Secrets Manager handles the storage and rotation policy, while Lambda executes the actual credential update against the database.
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 wants to securely store database credentials for a Lambda function. The credentials must be automatically rotated. Which TWO services should be used together?
AWS KMS
Why wrong: Encryption only.
AWS Secrets Manager
Stores and rotates secrets.
AWS CloudHSM
Why wrong: Not for secret rotation.
AWS Lambda
Can be used to implement custom rotation logic.
AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store
Why wrong: Does not support automatic rotation.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
AWS Secrets Manager
AWS Secrets Manager is the correct service because it is purpose-built for securely storing, retrieving, and automatically rotating database credentials and other secrets. It integrates natively with AWS Lambda and supports automatic rotation via a built-in rotation function or a custom Lambda function, meeting the requirement for automated credential rotation without manual intervention.
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.
AWS KMS
Why it's wrong here
Encryption only.
AWS Secrets Manager
Why this is correct
Stores and rotates secrets.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AWS CloudHSM
Why it's wrong here
Not for secret rotation.
AWS Lambda
Why this is correct
Can be used to implement custom rotation logic.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store
Why it's wrong here
Does not support automatic rotation.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store with Secrets Manager because both can store secrets, but Parameter Store lacks automatic rotation, which is explicitly required in the question.
Detailed technical explanation
AWS Secrets Manager uses a rotation schedule defined by a cron expression and invokes a Lambda function (either a provided template or custom) to rotate the secret, updating the database password and the secret value atomically. Under the hood, Secrets Manager integrates with AWS KMS for envelope encryption, where a KMS key encrypts the secret data, and the service manages versioning (AWSCURRENT, AWSPREVIOUS) to support rotation without downtime. In a real-world scenario, a Lambda function can retrieve the current secret using the AWS SDK with minimal latency, and automatic rotation ensures compliance with security policies like PCI DSS or SOC 2.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
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FAQ
Security — This question tests Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: AWS Secrets Manager — AWS Secrets Manager is the correct service because it is purpose-built for securely storing, retrieving, and automatically rotating database credentials and other secrets. It integrates natively with AWS Lambda and supports automatic rotation via a built-in rotation function or a custom Lambda function, meeting the requirement for automated credential rotation without manual intervention.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company uses AWS Secrets Manager to rotate database credentials for an RDS MySQL instance. The rotation Lambda function fails with the error: 'Secret is scheduled for deletion.' What is the MOST likely cause?
hardWhy A: The error 'Secret is scheduled for deletion' indicates that the secret has been marked for deletion and is currently in the mandatory waiting period (default 7 to 30 days). During this period, AWS Secrets Manager prevents any operations on the secret, including rotation, to ensure the deletion is intentional. The rotation Lambda function fails because it cannot access or modify a secret that is pending deletion.
Variation 2. A company uses AWS Secrets Manager to rotate database credentials. The rotation process uses a Lambda function that updates the secret. The developer notices that the rotation sometimes fails because the Lambda function does not have permission to update the secret. What is the MOST likely cause?
mediumWhy B: Option C is correct because the Lambda function's execution role needs permissions to update the secret. Option A is wrong because rotation does not require VPC endpoints. Option B is wrong because the secret itself does not have a resource policy blocking access. Option D is wrong because KMS key permissions are for encryption, not secret update.
Variation 3. A company wants to store database credentials securely and rotate them automatically on a schedule. The credentials are used by an AWS Lambda function to access an Amazon RDS instance. Which AWS service should the developer use to meet these requirements?
mediumWhy A: AWS Secrets Manager is the correct choice because it is specifically designed to securely store, retrieve, and automatically rotate database credentials on a schedule. It natively supports automatic rotation for Amazon RDS databases (including MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, and MariaDB) by integrating with Lambda to update the credentials in both Secrets Manager and the RDS instance. This meets the requirement for both secure storage and scheduled rotation without custom infrastructure.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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