- A
Store the database password as an encrypted environment variable in the Lambda function.
Why wrong: Environment variables are not automatically rotated and would require redeployment of the function to change the password. Secrets Manager provides rotation support.
- B
Call Secrets Manager on every invocation to get the latest secret.
Why wrong: This increases latency and cost due to multiple API calls. Caching is more efficient.
- C
Retrieve the secret from Secrets Manager once outside the handler function, cache it in a global variable, and refresh the cache if the secret fails.
Caching the secret in the global scope allows reuse across invocations within the same execution environment. If the secret is rotated, the cache can be refreshed when the cached secret fails to authenticate.
- D
Use AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store SecureString instead of Secrets Manager.
Why wrong: Parameter Store does not support automatic rotation natively. The requirement states the password is stored in Secrets Manager with rotation, so Secrets Manager should be used.
DVA-C02 Development with AWS Services Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of development with aws services. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 building an AWS Lambda function that needs to retrieve a database password securely. The password is stored in AWS Secrets Manager and is rotated every 30 days. The function must minimize the number of API calls to Secrets Manager. Which approach should the developer use?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
Retrieve the secret from Secrets Manager once outside the handler function, cache it in a global variable, and refresh the cache if the secret fails.
Option C is correct because it retrieves the secret once during the Lambda cold start (outside the handler), caches it in a global variable, and only refreshes the cache if the secret fails (e.g., due to rotation). This minimizes API calls to Secrets Manager while still handling secret rotation gracefully, as the cached secret remains valid until a failure occurs.
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.
- ✗
Store the database password as an encrypted environment variable in the Lambda function.
Why it's wrong here
Environment variables are not automatically rotated and would require redeployment of the function to change the password. Secrets Manager provides rotation support.
- ✗
Call Secrets Manager on every invocation to get the latest secret.
Why it's wrong here
This increases latency and cost due to multiple API calls. Caching is more efficient.
- ✓
Retrieve the secret from Secrets Manager once outside the handler function, cache it in a global variable, and refresh the cache if the secret fails.
Why this is correct
Caching the secret in the global scope allows reuse across invocations within the same execution environment. If the secret is rotated, the cache can be refreshed when the cached secret fails to authenticate.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store SecureString instead of Secrets Manager.
Why it's wrong here
Parameter Store does not support automatic rotation natively. The requirement states the password is stored in Secrets Manager with rotation, so Secrets Manager should be used.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume 'minimize API calls' means never calling Secrets Manager again, but the correct approach allows a single call per cold start with a fallback refresh on failure, not zero calls forever.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Lambda global variables persist across invocations within the same execution environment (cold start to warm start). By caching the secret in a global variable, subsequent invocations reuse the cached value without additional API calls. The refresh-on-failure pattern handles rotation because the secret in Secrets Manager is updated immediately upon rotation, but the cached value remains valid until the next invocation that fails authentication, triggering a fresh retrieval. This approach balances cost, latency, and security.
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.
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Development with AWS Services — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DVA-C02 question test?
Development with AWS Services — This question tests Development with AWS Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Retrieve the secret from Secrets Manager once outside the handler function, cache it in a global variable, and refresh the cache if the secret fails. — Option C is correct because it retrieves the secret once during the Lambda cold start (outside the handler), caches it in a global variable, and only refreshes the cache if the secret fails (e.g., due to rotation). This minimizes API calls to Secrets Manager while still handling secret rotation gracefully, as the cached secret remains valid until a failure occurs.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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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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