- A
Set a bucket policy that denies PutObject if x-amz-server-side-encryption header is not present.
Bucket policies can enforce encryption headers.
- B
Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket.
Default encryption automatically encrypts objects upon upload.
- C
Attach an IAM policy that denies all S3 actions unless encryption is specified.
Why wrong: IAM policies cannot enforce encryption at the object level during upload.
- D
Configure an SQS queue policy to require encryption.
Why wrong: SQS is not used for S3 encryption enforcement.
- E
Use client-side encryption before uploading objects.
Why wrong: Client-side encryption is not server-side encryption.
Question 403 of 1,616
Enforcing Server-Side Encryption on Amazon S3
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 is using Amazon S3 to store sensitive documents. They must encrypt all objects at rest. Which TWO methods can be used to enforce server-side encryption? (Choose TWO.)
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
✓
Set a bucket policy that denies PutObject if x-amz-server-side-encryption header is not present.
Option A is correct because a bucket policy can be configured to deny any PutObject request that does not include the `x-amz-server-side-encryption` header, thereby enforcing server-side encryption at the time of upload. This policy-based approach ensures that all objects written to the bucket must specify encryption, even if the uploader does not explicitly set it. Option B is correct because enabling default encryption on the S3 bucket automatically applies server-side encryption to all new objects stored, regardless of whether the upload request includes encryption headers.
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.
- ✓
Set a bucket policy that denies PutObject if x-amz-server-side-encryption header is not present.
Why this is correct
Bucket policies can enforce encryption headers.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket.
Why this is correct
Default encryption automatically encrypts objects upon upload.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Attach an IAM policy that denies all S3 actions unless encryption is specified.
Why it's wrong here
IAM policies cannot enforce encryption at the object level during upload.
- ✗
Configure an SQS queue policy to require encryption.
Why it's wrong here
SQS is not used for S3 encryption enforcement.
- ✗
Use client-side encryption before uploading objects.
Why it's wrong here
Client-side encryption is not server-side encryption.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse client-side encryption (Option E) with server-side encryption, or mistakenly think an IAM policy (Option C) can enforce encryption on the S3 service side without considering that IAM policies control user permissions, not object-level encryption enforcement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the bucket policy in Option A uses the `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption` condition key to inspect the request header, and can require a specific encryption algorithm like `AES256` or `aws:kms`. Default encryption (Option B) is applied at the bucket level as a pre-upload configuration, meaning S3 automatically adds the encryption header to any object that lacks it, but it does not retroactively encrypt existing objects. A subtle behavior is that if both a bucket policy requiring encryption and default encryption are set, the policy will reject requests that omit the header, while default encryption only applies to requests that are accepted.
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: Set a bucket policy that denies PutObject if x-amz-server-side-encryption header is not present. — Option A is correct because a bucket policy can be configured to deny any PutObject request that does not include the `x-amz-server-side-encryption` header, thereby enforcing server-side encryption at the time of upload. This policy-based approach ensures that all objects written to the bucket must specify encryption, even if the uploader does not explicitly set it. Option B is correct because enabling default encryption on the S3 bucket automatically applies server-side encryption to all new objects stored, regardless of whether the upload request includes encryption headers.
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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