The answer is that ACM automatically renews the certificate if it uses DNS validation. This works because ACM periodically checks for the presence of the required DNS CNAME record; as long as that record remains in place, ACM handles the entire renewal process—including re-issuing the certificate before expiration—without any manual intervention or additional infrastructure. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how ACM integrates with CloudFront, which requires certificates in us-east-1, and a common trap is assuming you need a Lambda function or a cron job to trigger renewal. Remember the key distinction: DNS validation enables automatic renewal, while email validation requires manual action. Memory tip: “DNS does it automatically—no scripts, no stress.”
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 developer is using AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) to provision an SSL/TLS certificate for a website hosted on CloudFront. The certificate must be renewed automatically. What is the correct action?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
ACM automatically renews the certificate if it uses DNS validation.
ACM automatically renews certificates that use DNS validation, provided the required DNS CNAME record remains in place. CloudFront supports ACM certificates in us-east-1, and ACM handles renewal without any manual intervention or additional infrastructure like Lambda functions.
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.
✗
The developer must configure a Lambda function to renew the certificate.
Why it's wrong here
ACM handles renewal automatically; no Lambda needed.
✗
The certificate cannot be used with CloudFront; ACM certificates are only for ALB.
Why it's wrong here
ACM certificates can be used with CloudFront.
✓
ACM automatically renews the certificate if it uses DNS validation.
Why this is correct
ACM attempts to renew certificates 60 days before expiration using DNS validation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The developer must manually request a new certificate before expiration.
Why it's wrong here
ACM automates renewal if the certificate uses DNS validation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume ACM requires manual renewal or additional automation (like Lambda), but ACM's automatic renewal for DNS-validated certificates is a key managed feature tested in the DVA-C02 exam.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACM uses DNS validation by checking for a specific CNAME record in the public DNS zone; as long as that record exists, ACM automatically renews the certificate 60 days before expiration. For CloudFront, the certificate must be in the us-east-1 region, and ACM's managed renewal process ensures continuous HTTPS without downtime. If the CNAME record is removed or the domain ownership changes, renewal fails and the certificate expires.
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 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
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 — 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: ACM automatically renews the certificate if it uses DNS validation. — ACM automatically renews certificates that use DNS validation, provided the required DNS CNAME record remains in place. CloudFront supports ACM certificates in us-east-1, and ACM handles renewal without any manual intervention or additional infrastructure like Lambda functions.
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.
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Question Discussion
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