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. A key principle to apply: the `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id` condition key checks the specific KMS key ID used for S3 SSE-KMS.. 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 wants to enforce that all uploads to an Amazon S3 bucket must be encrypted using server-side encryption with a specific AWS KMS customer managed key (CMK). The developer needs to write an IAM policy condition that denies any s3:PutObject request that does not use the specified KMS key. Which IAM condition key should be used?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id
Option C is correct because the `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id` condition key allows you to enforce that a specific AWS KMS customer managed key (CMK) ARN is used for server-side encryption on S3 PutObject requests. By using this condition key in a Deny statement, you can reject any upload that does not specify the required KMS key ID, ensuring encryption compliance.
Key principle: The `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id` condition key checks the specific KMS key ID used for S3 SSE-KMS.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption
Why it's wrong here
This condition key only checks if SSE is enabled, not which specific KMS key is used. It cannot enforce a particular key ID.
✗
kms:EncryptionContext
Why it's wrong here
This is a KMS policy condition key for encryption context, not for S3 PutObject requests.
✓
s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id
Why this is correct
Correct. This condition key evaluates the KMS key ID in the request header, allowing you to deny requests that do not specify the required CMK.
Related concept
The `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id` condition key checks the specific KMS key ID used for S3 SSE-KMS.
✗
kms:KeyArn
Why it's wrong here
This is a condition key used in KMS key policies, not in S3 bucket policies. It cannot directly control S3 PutObject requests.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the condition key for enforcing encryption type (Option A) with the condition key for enforcing a specific KMS key ID (Option C), or mistakenly think that a KMS-specific condition key like `kms:KeyArn` can be used in an S3 policy, when in fact it only applies to KMS API calls.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id` condition key evaluates the value of the `x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id` header in the PutObject request, which must match the exact KMS key ARN. Under the hood, S3 passes this key ID to KMS during the encryption operation; if the key ID does not match the condition, the request is denied. A real-world scenario is a compliance requirement where all data must be encrypted with a key managed by a specific team, and this condition key prevents accidental use of the default AWS managed key or a different CMK.
KKey Concepts to Remember
The `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id` condition key checks the specific KMS key ID used for S3 SSE-KMS.
It is used in S3 bucket policies or IAM user policies to control S3 PutObject requests.
This condition key evaluates the `x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id` HTTP header.
It enables enforcement of a specific Customer Managed Key (CMK) for S3 object encryption.
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
The `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id` condition key checks the specific KMS key ID used for S3 SSE-KMS.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id` condition key checks the specific KMS key ID used for S3 SSE-KMS., then practise related DVA-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Security — This question tests Security — The `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id` condition key checks the specific KMS key ID used for S3 SSE-KMS..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id — Option C is correct because the `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id` condition key allows you to enforce that a specific AWS KMS customer managed key (CMK) ARN is used for server-side encryption on S3 PutObject requests. By using this condition key in a Deny statement, you can reject any upload that does not specify the required KMS key ID, ensuring encryption compliance.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?
Review the `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id` condition key checks the specific KMS key ID used for S3 SSE-KMS., then practise related DVA-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
The `s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id` condition key checks the specific KMS key ID used for S3 SSE-KMS.
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