The correct approach is to create an IAM policy that denies the codecommit:GitPush action unless the commit is signed, using a condition key that checks for GPG signature metadata. This works because AWS CodeCommit lacks a native repository-level toggle to enforce signed commits, so you must leverage IAM policies with conditions like codecommit:referencedRefName to inspect the Git protocol’s signed commit attributes and block unsigned pushes. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding that CodeCommit relies on IAM for security controls, not repository settings—a common trap is assuming a simple checkbox exists in the console. Remember, you cannot enforce signed commits through repository configuration alone; the enforcement must happen at the IAM policy layer. A useful memory tip: “No toggle, just policy—deny unsigned pushes with IAM.”
DVA-C02 Security Practice Question
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 is using AWS CodeCommit and wants to ensure that all commits are signed with GPG keys. Which approach should be used to enforce this?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create an IAM policy that denies codecommit:GitPush unless the commit is signed.
Option C is correct because AWS CodeCommit does not natively support a 'require signed commits' toggle in the repository settings. Instead, you must use an IAM policy with a condition key like `codecommit:referencedRefName` and a custom condition (e.g., using the `git` protocol's signed commit metadata) to deny `codecommit:GitPush` actions when the commit is not signed. This is the only way to enforce GPG signing at the AWS service level.
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.
✗
Use AWS Organizations service control policies (SCPs) to deny unsigned commits.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs are for organizations, not for individual repositories.
✗
Enable 'Require signed commits' in the CodeCommit repository settings.
Why it's wrong here
CodeCommit does not have such a setting.
✓
Create an IAM policy that denies codecommit:GitPush unless the commit is signed.
Why this is correct
IAM policies can enforce signed commits using conditions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use an AWS Lambda function as a pre-commit hook in the repository.
Why it's wrong here
CodeCommit does not support pre-commit hooks.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume CodeCommit has a simple 'require signed commits' toggle like other Git platforms, but AWS requires a custom IAM policy because CodeCommit lacks native server-side GPG verification.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, enforcing signed commits in CodeCommit relies on an IAM policy that uses the `codecommit:GitPush` action with a condition key such as `aws:SourceIp` or a custom tag, but the actual signing verification must be done client-side (e.g., using `git commit -S`) because CodeCommit does not validate GPG signatures natively. A real-world scenario involves combining this IAM policy with a client-side hook or a CI/CD pipeline that rejects unsigned pushes, but the IAM policy is the only server-side enforcement mechanism available.
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.
Security — This question tests Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create an IAM policy that denies codecommit:GitPush unless the commit is signed. — Option C is correct because AWS CodeCommit does not natively support a 'require signed commits' toggle in the repository settings. Instead, you must use an IAM policy with a condition key like `codecommit:referencedRefName` and a custom condition (e.g., using the `git` protocol's signed commit metadata) to deny `codecommit:GitPush` actions when the commit is not signed. This is the only way to enforce GPG signing at the AWS service level.
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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Question Discussion
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