This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 designing a system that must meet the following security requirements: (1) Encrypt data at rest in S3, (2) Automatically rotate encryption keys annually, (3) Use an encryption key that is managed by AWS. Which services or features should the developer use? (Choose TWO.)
SSE-C
Why wrong: Customer-provided keys, not AWS-managed.
SSE-KMS
KMS-managed keys, supports rotation.
SSE-S3
S3-managed keys, automatically rotated.
AWS CloudHSM
Why wrong: Customer-managed hardware.
Client-side encryption with AWS KMS
Why wrong: Client-side, not AWS-managed at rest.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
SSE-KMS
Option A (SSE-S3) and Option E (SSE-KMS) are correct because both provide encryption at rest with AWS-managed keys. SSE-KMS supports automatic annual rotation (if KMS key rotation is enabled). SSE-S3 uses S3-managed keys which rotate automatically. Option B (SSE-C) uses customer-provided keys, not AWS-managed. Option C (CloudHSM) is customer-managed. Option D (client-side encryption) is not AWS-managed.
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.
SSE-C
Why it's wrong here
Customer-provided keys, not AWS-managed.
SSE-KMS
Why this is correct
KMS-managed keys, supports rotation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
SSE-S3
Why this is correct
S3-managed keys, automatically rotated.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AWS CloudHSM
Why it's wrong here
Customer-managed hardware.
Client-side encryption with AWS KMS
Why it's wrong here
Client-side, not AWS-managed at rest.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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
Security — This question tests Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: SSE-KMS — Option A (SSE-S3) and Option E (SSE-KMS) are correct because both provide encryption at rest with AWS-managed keys. SSE-KMS supports automatic annual rotation (if KMS key rotation is enabled). SSE-S3 uses S3-managed keys which rotate automatically. Option B (SSE-C) uses customer-provided keys, not AWS-managed. Option C (CloudHSM) is customer-managed. Option D (client-side encryption) is not AWS-managed.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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