- A
Change the default encryption of the bucket to SSE-KMS with the desired KMS key.
This ensures all objects uploaded are encrypted with the specified KMS key.
- B
Add an object-level encryption setting to each object after upload.
Why wrong: This is not minimal and can be missed; default encryption is preferred.
- C
Enable S3 Bucket Keys on the bucket.
Why wrong: Bucket Keys reduce KMS request costs but do not change encryption type.
- D
Attach a bucket policy that denies uploads without the required KMS key.
Why wrong: Policy alone does not encrypt data; it only enforces that encryption is present.
Question 1,480 of 1,616
How to Change S3 Default Encryption from SSE-S3 to SSE-KMS
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of development with aws services. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 stores sensitive user data in an S3 bucket. The security team requires that all data be encrypted at rest using a customer-managed KMS key. The bucket already has default encryption configured with SSE-S3. What is the MINIMUM change needed to meet the requirement?
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
✓
Change the default encryption of the bucket to SSE-KMS with the desired KMS key.
The current bucket has default encryption set to SSE-S3, which uses AWS-managed keys, not customer-managed KMS keys. Changing the default encryption to SSE-KMS with the desired customer-managed KMS key ensures that all new objects uploaded to the bucket are automatically encrypted at rest using that key, meeting the security team's requirement without additional per-object configuration.
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.
- ✓
Change the default encryption of the bucket to SSE-KMS with the desired KMS key.
Why this is correct
This ensures all objects uploaded are encrypted with the specified KMS key.
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.
- ✗
Add an object-level encryption setting to each object after upload.
Why it's wrong here
This is not minimal and can be missed; default encryption is preferred.
- ✗
Enable S3 Bucket Keys on the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
Bucket Keys reduce KMS request costs but do not change encryption type.
- ✗
Attach a bucket policy that denies uploads without the required KMS key.
Why it's wrong here
Policy alone does not encrypt data; it only enforces that encryption is present.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse enforcing encryption via bucket policies (which only denies non-compliant uploads) with actually setting the encryption method via default encryption, which automatically applies the required encryption to all objects.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Default encryption on an S3 bucket applies server-side encryption to all objects uploaded without explicit encryption headers. When you set default encryption to SSE-KMS, S3 automatically uses the specified KMS key to encrypt each object, and the encryption context is applied. This is distinct from bucket policies that enforce encryption via conditions like `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption` or `kms:EncryptionContext`; default encryption is the simplest way to ensure compliance without requiring client-side changes.
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.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
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?
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: Change the default encryption of the bucket to SSE-KMS with the desired KMS key. — The current bucket has default encryption set to SSE-S3, which uses AWS-managed keys, not customer-managed KMS keys. Changing the default encryption to SSE-KMS with the desired customer-managed KMS key ensures that all new objects uploaded to the bucket are automatically encrypted at rest using that key, meeting the security team's requirement without additional per-object configuration.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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