- A
Store the credentials in AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store and reference the parameter in the task definition.
Parameter Store can securely store and inject secrets.
- B
Store the credentials in AWS Secrets Manager and reference the secret in the task definition.
Secrets Manager integrates with ECS to inject secrets securely.
- C
Use IAM roles for tasks and retrieve credentials from AWS Secrets Manager at runtime.
The task can assume an IAM role to access Secrets Manager.
- D
Hardcode the credentials in the container image.
Why wrong: Hardcoding is insecure and not recommended.
- E
Define environment variables in the task definition with the credentials.
Why wrong: Environment variables in task definitions are visible in plain text.
Question 1,189 of 1,616
DVA-C02 Deployment Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of deployment. 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 developer is deploying a containerized application on Amazon ECS with Fargate. The application requires access to an Amazon RDS database. The developer needs to securely pass database credentials to the container. Which THREE methods can the developer use?
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
✓
Store the credentials in AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store and reference the parameter in the task definition.
Option A is correct because AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store allows you to securely store database credentials as parameters and reference them directly in the ECS task definition using the 'secrets' field. This enables Fargate to inject the credentials as environment variables at container startup without exposing them in plaintext.
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 credentials in AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store and reference the parameter in the task definition.
Why this is correct
Parameter Store can securely store and inject secrets.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Store the credentials in AWS Secrets Manager and reference the secret in the task definition.
Why this is correct
Secrets Manager integrates with ECS to inject secrets securely.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Use IAM roles for tasks and retrieve credentials from AWS Secrets Manager at runtime.
Why this is correct
The task can assume an IAM role to access Secrets Manager.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Hardcode the credentials in the container image.
Why it's wrong here
Hardcoding is insecure and not recommended.
- ✗
Define environment variables in the task definition with the credentials.
Why it's wrong here
Environment variables in task definitions are visible in plain text.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'referencing a secret in the task definition' (which is secure and done at launch time) with 'defining environment variables directly in the task definition' (which is insecure), and they may also overlook that IAM roles for tasks can be used to retrieve secrets at runtime, not just at launch.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, ECS task definitions support a 'secrets' array that maps either SSM Parameter Store parameters or Secrets Manager secrets to environment variables in the container. The ECS agent on Fargate uses the task execution IAM role to call GetParameterValue or GetSecretValue at container launch, ensuring credentials are never stored in the task definition payload itself. For runtime retrieval (Option C), the application must explicitly call the AWS SDK to fetch the secret, which decouples credential injection from container startup and allows dynamic rotation.
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.
- →
Deployment — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Deployment practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All DVA-C02 questions
1,616 questions across all exam domains
- →
AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
DVA-C02 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related DVA-C02 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Development with AWS Services practice questions
Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to Development with AWS Services.
Security practice questions
Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to Security.
Deployment practice questions
Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to Deployment.
Troubleshooting and Optimization practice questions
Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to Troubleshooting and Optimization.
DVA-C02 fundamentals practice questions
Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to DVA-C02 fundamentals.
DVA-C02 scenario practice questions
Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to DVA-C02 scenario.
DVA-C02 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise DVA-C02 questions linked to DVA-C02 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free DVA-C02 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DVA-C02 question test?
Deployment — This question tests Deployment — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Store the credentials in AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store and reference the parameter in the task definition. — Option A is correct because AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store allows you to securely store database credentials as parameters and reference them directly in the ECS task definition using the 'secrets' field. This enables Fargate to inject the credentials as environment variables at container startup without exposing them in plaintext.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More DVA-C02 practice questions
- A developer is troubleshooting an AWS Lambda function that is triggered by an S3 event. The function occasionally fails…
- A developer needs to call AWS APIs from application code running on EC2. Which credential source should the AWS SDK use…
- A developer needs to allow an IAM user in a different AWS account to assume a role in the developer's account. The role…
- A developer needs to grant an IAM role in Account B read-only access to objects in an S3 bucket in Account A. The bucket…
- An API Gateway HTTP API should allow access only to users authenticated by an external OIDC provider. Which authorizer t…
- A developer needs to allow an EC2 instance to read from a DynamoDB table. Which is the best practice to grant permission…
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.