- A
AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store with a SecureString parameter.
Why wrong: Parameter Store can securely store secrets, but it does not have built-in automatic rotation capabilities. Rotation would require a custom Lambda function.
- B
AWS Secrets Manager with automatic rotation enabled.
Secrets Manager is designed for managing secrets and supports automatic rotation for many database services. It can rotate the credentials on a schedule as required.
- C
AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) roles for EC2.
Why wrong: IAM roles provide temporary credentials for AWS API calls, not database credentials. They cannot store or rotate database usernames and passwords.
- D
AWS Key Management Service (KMS) to store the credentials as encrypted data.
Why wrong: KMS is a key management service, not a secret store. While you can encrypt secrets with KMS, you still need a store like Secrets Manager to manage and rotate them.
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 developer runs an application on Amazon EC2 that needs to securely store database credentials (username and password). The security team requires that the credentials be automatically rotated every 30 days. Which AWS service should the developer use to store and automatically rotate the credentials?
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
AWS Secrets Manager with automatic rotation enabled.
AWS Secrets Manager is designed specifically for managing secrets such as database credentials, with built-in capabilities for automatic rotation according to a schedule (e.g., every 30 days). It integrates natively with supported databases (e.g., Amazon RDS, Redshift, DocumentDB) to rotate credentials without custom code, and it encrypts secrets at rest using AWS KMS. This makes it the correct choice for the developer's requirement of secure storage and automated rotation.
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.
- ✗
AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store with a SecureString parameter.
Why it's wrong here
Parameter Store can securely store secrets, but it does not have built-in automatic rotation capabilities. Rotation would require a custom Lambda function.
- ✓
AWS Secrets Manager with automatic rotation enabled.
Why this is correct
Secrets Manager is designed for managing secrets and supports automatic rotation for many database services. It can rotate the credentials on a schedule as required.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) roles for EC2.
Why it's wrong here
IAM roles provide temporary credentials for AWS API calls, not database credentials. They cannot store or rotate database usernames and passwords.
- ✗
AWS Key Management Service (KMS) to store the credentials as encrypted data.
Why it's wrong here
KMS is a key management service, not a secret store. While you can encrypt secrets with KMS, you still need a store like Secrets Manager to manage and rotate them.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Parameter Store's SecureString (which can store encrypted secrets but lacks built-in rotation) with Secrets Manager, overlooking the explicit requirement for automatic rotation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS Secrets Manager uses a rotation schedule defined by a cron expression or rate (e.g., 'rate(30 days)') and invokes a Lambda function (either AWS-managed or custom) to update the secret in both the service and the target database. The service also enforces a 'staging labels' mechanism (e.g., AWSCURRENT, AWSPENDING, AWSPREVIOUS) to ensure zero-downtime rotation by allowing applications to use the current secret while the new one is being tested. In a real-world scenario, if the database is not natively supported, a custom Lambda function must handle the rotation logic, which is a common exam nuance.
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.
- →
Security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Security practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All DVA-C02 questions
1,616 questions across all exam domains
- →
AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
DVA-C02 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related DVA-C02 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Development with AWS Services practice questions
Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to Development with AWS Services.
Security practice questions
Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to Security.
Deployment practice questions
Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to Deployment.
Troubleshooting and Optimization practice questions
Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to Troubleshooting and Optimization.
DVA-C02 fundamentals practice questions
Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to DVA-C02 fundamentals.
DVA-C02 scenario practice questions
Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to DVA-C02 scenario.
DVA-C02 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to DVA-C02 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free DVA-C02 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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: AWS Secrets Manager with automatic rotation enabled. — AWS Secrets Manager is designed specifically for managing secrets such as database credentials, with built-in capabilities for automatic rotation according to a schedule (e.g., every 30 days). It integrates natively with supported databases (e.g., Amazon RDS, Redshift, DocumentDB) to rotate credentials without custom code, and it encrypts secrets at rest using AWS KMS. This makes it the correct choice for the developer's requirement of secure storage and automated rotation.
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.
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 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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.