- A
Hardcode the credentials in the application code and encrypt the code using AWS KMS.
Why wrong: Hardcoding is not a best practice even if encrypted; it's still exposed in code repositories.
- B
Store the database credentials in AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store or AWS Secrets Manager.
Parameter Store or Secrets Manager can securely store secrets and be retrieved by the application.
- C
Reference the secrets in the task definition as environment variables using the 'secrets' parameter.
ECS task definition supports a 'secrets' parameter that injects secrets as environment variables.
- D
Grant the ECS task execution role permission to read the secrets from Parameter Store or Secrets Manager.
The task execution role allows ECS to retrieve secrets on behalf of the task.
- E
Store the credentials in Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR) as a tag.
Why wrong: ECR is for container images, not secrets. Tags are not encrypted and not designed for secrets.
DVA-C02 Development with AWS Services Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of development with aws services. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 deploying an application on Amazon ECS using Fargate. The application needs to securely access an Amazon RDS database. The developer wants to avoid hardcoding database credentials in the application code. Which THREE actions should the developer take to meet these requirements? (Choose THREE.)
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
Store the database credentials in AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store or AWS Secrets Manager.
Options A, C, and D are correct. Option A: AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store or AWS Secrets Manager can store credentials. Option C: Task execution role allows ECS to retrieve secrets. Option D: Secrets can be injected as environment variables. Option B is wrong because database credentials are not stored in ECR. Option E is wrong because Secrets Manager cannot be directly accessed by the application without proper IAM permissions.
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.
- ✗
Hardcode the credentials in the application code and encrypt the code using AWS KMS.
Why it's wrong here
Hardcoding is not a best practice even if encrypted; it's still exposed in code repositories.
- ✓
Store the database credentials in AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store or AWS Secrets Manager.
Why this is correct
Parameter Store or Secrets Manager can securely store secrets and be retrieved by the application.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Reference the secrets in the task definition as environment variables using the 'secrets' parameter.
Why this is correct
ECS task definition supports a 'secrets' parameter that injects secrets as environment variables.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Grant the ECS task execution role permission to read the secrets from Parameter Store or Secrets Manager.
Why this is correct
The task execution role allows ECS to retrieve secrets on behalf of the task.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Store the credentials in Amazon Elastic Container Registry (ECR) as a tag.
Why it's wrong here
ECR is for container images, not secrets. Tags are not encrypted and not designed for secrets.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
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
How to think about this question
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.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which DVA-C02 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
Questions learners often ask
What does this DVA-C02 question test?
Development with AWS Services — This question tests Development with AWS Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Store the database credentials in AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store or AWS Secrets Manager. — Options A, C, and D are correct. Option A: AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store or AWS Secrets Manager can store credentials. Option C: Task execution role allows ECS to retrieve secrets. Option D: Secrets can be injected as environment variables. Option B is wrong because database credentials are not stored in ECR. Option E is wrong because Secrets Manager cannot be directly accessed by the application without proper IAM permissions.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?
Identify which DVA-C02 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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 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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