The answer is to use an AWS managed key (aws/s3) for S3 encryption. This is correct because AWS managed keys, such as the default aws/s3 key used for server-side encryption, are automatically rotated by AWS every year with no configuration or maintenance required from you. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of the key management options for S3 server-side encryption with automatic key rotation, specifically contrasting the operational overhead of AWS managed keys versus customer managed keys. A common trap is assuming you must enable rotation yourself, but for AWS managed keys it happens automatically, while customer managed keys require you to explicitly enable automatic rotation. Remember the memory tip: “Managed by AWS means managed rotation” — if you want zero overhead, choose the key AWS manages for you.
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 uses AWS KMS to encrypt data at rest in S3. The security team requires that all encryption keys be rotated automatically every year. Which solution meets this requirement with the LEAST operational overhead?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "least"
Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use an AWS managed key (aws/s3) for S3 encryption.
Option B is correct because AWS managed keys (aws/s3) are automatically rotated annually with no effort. Option A requires manual rotation. Option C is for customer managed keys and requires enabling automatic rotation. Option D is for asymmetric keys, which are not used for S3 encryption.
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 an AWS managed key (aws/s3) for S3 encryption.
Why this is correct
AWS managed keys are automatically rotated every year.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use a customer managed key and enable automatic rotation.
Why it's wrong here
This also works but requires creating and managing the key; AWS managed key is simpler.
✗
Create a customer managed key and rotate it manually every year.
Why it's wrong here
Manual rotation has high operational overhead.
✗
Use an asymmetric KMS key and rotate it automatically.
Why it's wrong here
Asymmetric keys are not used for S3 encryption.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which DVA-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: Use an AWS managed key (aws/s3) for S3 encryption. — Option B is correct because AWS managed keys (aws/s3) are automatically rotated annually with no effort. Option A requires manual rotation. Option C is for customer managed keys and requires enabling automatic rotation. Option D is for asymmetric keys, which are not used for S3 encryption.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?
Identify which DVA-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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 →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company wants to store sensitive data in S3. The data must be encrypted at rest using server-side encryption with a key that is automatically rotated annually. Which S3 encryption option should be used?
easy
A.Client-side encryption
✓ B.SSE-S3
C.SSE-KMS with a customer managed key
D.SSE-C
Why B: Option A is correct because SSE-S3 uses AWS managed keys that are automatically rotated. Option B (SSE-KMS) requires managing key rotation. Option C (SSE-C) does not manage rotation. Option D (client-side) is not server-side.
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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
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