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.
An application running on an EC2 instance needs to access a DynamoDB table. The instance is in a private subnet. What is the most secure way to grant access without using long-lived credentials?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create an IAM role with DynamoDB access and attach it to the EC2 instance profile.
Option C is correct because it uses an IAM role attached to the EC2 instance profile, which allows the instance to obtain temporary security credentials from the AWS Security Token Service (STS). This eliminates the need for long-lived credentials and follows the principle of least privilege. The instance can securely access DynamoDB without storing any secrets on the instance.
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.
✗
Create a VPC endpoint for DynamoDB and attach a security group to allow access.
Why it's wrong here
VPC endpoints provide private connectivity but do not grant IAM permissions; an IAM role is still required.
✗
Store IAM user access keys in the application configuration file.
Why it's wrong here
Access keys are long-lived and pose a security risk if exposed.
✓
Create an IAM role with DynamoDB access and attach it to the EC2 instance profile.
Why this is correct
Instance profiles provide temporary credentials via the instance metadata service. This is the best practice.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use a security group to allow the EC2 instance to communicate with DynamoDB.
Why it's wrong here
Security groups control network traffic, not API-level permissions.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse network-level controls (VPC endpoints or security groups) with identity-based access control, mistakenly thinking that enabling private connectivity alone grants API access to DynamoDB.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When an IAM role is attached to an EC2 instance profile, the AWS credentials provider on the instance automatically retrieves temporary credentials from the instance metadata service (IMDS) at http://169.254.169.254/latest/meta-data/iam/security-credentials/. These credentials are rotated automatically and have a configurable duration (default 6 hours), reducing the blast radius of a potential leak. In a private subnet, this works seamlessly with a VPC endpoint for DynamoDB, combining network isolation with IAM-based access control.
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 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 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: Create an IAM role with DynamoDB access and attach it to the EC2 instance profile. — Option C is correct because it uses an IAM role attached to the EC2 instance profile, which allows the instance to obtain temporary security credentials from the AWS Security Token Service (STS). This eliminates the need for long-lived credentials and follows the principle of least privilege. The instance can securely access DynamoDB without storing any secrets on the instance.
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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