- A
Store the configuration in Amazon ECR as a label and reference it in the task definition.
Why wrong: ECR is for images, not configuration.
- B
Use the 'configs' section in the task definition to load from Parameter Store.
Why wrong: No such section exists.
- C
Add a 'parameters' section in the task definition to load from Parameter Store.
Why wrong: No such section exists.
- D
Use the 'secrets' field in the task definition to reference the parameter ARN.
The secrets field allows referencing Parameter Store parameters.
Question 1,282 of 1,616
Reference Parameter Store in ECS Task Definitions with the Secrets Field
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of deployment. 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 developer is deploying a containerized application on Amazon ECS with Fargate. The application needs to read configuration data from AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store. The developer wants to ensure that the ECS task definition can access the parameter without hardcoding the value. What should the developer do?
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
✓
Use the 'secrets' field in the task definition to reference the parameter ARN.
Option D is correct because the 'secrets' field in an ECS task definition allows you to reference AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store (or AWS Secrets Manager) parameters by their ARN. This enables the container to retrieve the configuration value at runtime without hardcoding it in the task definition or container image, maintaining security and flexibility.
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 configuration in Amazon ECR as a label and reference it in the task definition.
Why it's wrong here
ECR is for images, not configuration.
- ✗
Use the 'configs' section in the task definition to load from Parameter Store.
Why it's wrong here
No such section exists.
- ✗
Add a 'parameters' section in the task definition to load from Parameter Store.
Why it's wrong here
No such section exists.
- ✓
Use the 'secrets' field in the task definition to reference the parameter ARN.
Why this is correct
The secrets field allows referencing Parameter Store parameters.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the 'secrets' field (which supports both Parameter Store and Secrets Manager) with the non-existent 'parameters' section or the 'configs' section (which is for file-based configuration), leading them to select a plausible-sounding but incorrect option.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When using the 'secrets' field, ECS retrieves the parameter value from Parameter Store at container launch time and injects it as an environment variable or into a log configuration. The task execution role must have the 'ssm:GetParameters' permission for the specified parameter ARN. This approach avoids storing sensitive data in the task definition or image, and supports automatic rotation of parameter values without redeploying the task.
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.
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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: Use the 'secrets' field in the task definition to reference the parameter ARN. — Option D is correct because the 'secrets' field in an ECS task definition allows you to reference AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store (or AWS Secrets Manager) parameters by their ARN. This enables the container to retrieve the configuration value at runtime without hardcoding it in the task definition or container image, maintaining security and flexibility.
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: 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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