- A
s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption equals aws:kms
This condition specifies that the object must be encrypted with SSE-KMS. A Deny statement with this condition will reject uploads that do not use 'aws:kms' for server-side encryption.
- B
s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption equals AES256
Why wrong: This enforces SSE-S3 (AES256), not SSE-KMS, so it would not meet the requirement for KMS-based encryption.
- C
s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id equals a specific key ARN
Why wrong: While this can enforce a specific CMK, it does not enforce that SSE-KMS is used at all. An upload using SSE-S3 would not include this header and would not be rejected by this condition alone.
- D
aws:SecureTransport equals true
Why wrong: This enforces HTTPS, not encryption at rest. It ensures data in transit is encrypted but does not control the server-side encryption method used on the object.
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 company has an S3 bucket that stores sensitive data. They want to ensure that any object uploaded to the bucket is automatically encrypted with server-side encryption using AWS KMS (SSE-KMS). They also want to deny any uploads that do not specify the correct encryption. Which bucket policy condition should be used to enforce this requirement?
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
s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption equals aws:kms
Option A is correct because the condition `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption equals aws:kms` enforces that any PUT request to the S3 bucket must include the `x-amz-server-side-encryption` header set to `aws:kms`, which triggers SSE-KMS encryption. This policy condition ensures that objects uploaded without specifying SSE-KMS are denied, meeting the requirement to automatically encrypt all uploaded objects with AWS KMS.
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.
- ✓
s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption equals aws:kms
Why this is correct
This condition specifies that the object must be encrypted with SSE-KMS. A Deny statement with this condition will reject uploads that do not use 'aws:kms' for server-side encryption.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption equals AES256
Why it's wrong here
This enforces SSE-S3 (AES256), not SSE-KMS, so it would not meet the requirement for KMS-based encryption.
- ✗
s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id equals a specific key ARN
Why it's wrong here
While this can enforce a specific CMK, it does not enforce that SSE-KMS is used at all. An upload using SSE-S3 would not include this header and would not be rejected by this condition alone.
- ✗
aws:SecureTransport equals true
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the condition for specifying a particular KMS key ARN (Option C) with the condition for simply requiring SSE-KMS encryption, leading them to pick an overly restrictive policy that would break uploads using the default KMS key.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption` condition key checks the `x-amz-server-side-encryption` header in PUT requests; when set to `aws:kms`, S3 uses the default AWS managed KMS key (aws/s3) or a customer managed key if specified. Under the hood, S3 evaluates bucket policies before processing the upload, so a deny effect on requests without the correct header prevents the object from being stored unencrypted. In real-world scenarios, this policy is often combined with a default encryption setting on the bucket to ensure encryption even if the header is missing, but the policy alone enforces the requirement at the request level.
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.
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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: s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption equals aws:kms — Option A is correct because the condition `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption equals aws:kms` enforces that any PUT request to the S3 bucket must include the `x-amz-server-side-encryption` header set to `aws:kms`, which triggers SSE-KMS encryption. This policy condition ensures that objects uploaded without specifying SSE-KMS are denied, meeting the requirement to automatically encrypt all uploaded objects with AWS KMS.
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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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.
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