Quick Answer
The answer is AWS Secrets Manager, as it provides built-in, automated rotation of database credentials without requiring custom code. This service allows you to define a rotation schedule—such as every 30 days—and Secrets Manager automatically updates both the secret and the database password using an integrated Lambda function, meeting the requirement with minimal development effort. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this concept tests your understanding of managed services that reduce operational overhead; a common trap is confusing Secrets Manager with Systems Manager Parameter Store, which lacks native automatic rotation for database credentials. Remember that Secrets Manager is the go-to for scheduled, automated credential rotation, while Parameter Store is better for simple configuration data. A helpful memory tip: think “Secrets Manager rotates, Parameter Store stores.”
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 a requirement to automatically rotate database credentials every 30 days. Which AWS service can meet this requirement with minimal development effort?
AWS KMS
Why wrong: KMS handles encryption keys, not secrets rotation.
AWS IAM
Why wrong: IAM manages users and permissions, not database credentials.
AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store
Why wrong: Parameter Store does not automatically rotate secrets.
AWS Secrets Manager
Secrets Manager has built-in rotation for supported databases.
Answer choices
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
AWS Secrets Manager is the correct choice because it provides built-in, automated rotation of database credentials without custom code. You can define a rotation schedule (e.g., every 30 days) and Secrets Manager will automatically update the secret and the database password using a Lambda function, meeting the requirement with minimal development effort.
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.
AWS KMS
Why it's wrong here
KMS handles encryption keys, not secrets rotation.
AWS IAM
Why it's wrong here
IAM manages users and permissions, not database credentials.
AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store
Why it's wrong here
Parameter Store does not automatically rotate secrets.
AWS Secrets Manager
Why this is correct
Secrets Manager has built-in rotation for supported databases.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Systems Manager Parameter Store (which can store secrets but lacks automatic rotation) with Secrets Manager, overlooking the critical requirement for automated rotation with minimal effort.
Detailed technical explanation
Secrets Manager uses an AWS Lambda function (provided by AWS or custom) to perform the rotation. The rotation process updates both the secret in Secrets Manager and the database password in the target database, ensuring consistency. The rotation schedule is defined using a cron expression (e.g., `rate(30 days)`), and Secrets Manager supports automatic rotation for Amazon RDS, Redshift, and DocumentDB out of the box.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Security — This question tests Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: AWS Secrets Manager — AWS Secrets Manager is the correct choice because it provides built-in, automated rotation of database credentials without custom code. You can define a rotation schedule (e.g., every 30 days) and Secrets Manager will automatically update the secret and the database password using a Lambda function, meeting the requirement with minimal development effort.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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