- A
No action needed; SAM automatically encrypts environment variables at rest using a default KMS key.
SAM uses AWS managed keys to encrypt environment variables by default.
- B
Enable encryption in the SAM template using the 'Encrypt' property.
Why wrong: There is no 'Encrypt' property; encryption is automatic.
- C
Modify the Lambda function's code to encrypt environment variables before deployment.
Why wrong: Environment variables are encrypted at rest automatically; code modification is unnecessary.
- D
Create a customer managed KMS key and specify it in the SAM template.
Why wrong: While you can use a custom key, it's not the most straightforward way.
Question 1,012 of 1,616
SAM Lambda Environment Variables Encryption at Rest with Default KMS
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 serverless application using the AWS Serverless Application Model (SAM). The developer wants to ensure that the Lambda function's environment variables are encrypted at rest. What is the most straightforward way to achieve this?
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
✓
No action needed; SAM automatically encrypts environment variables at rest using a default KMS key.
AWS SAM, by default, encrypts Lambda function environment variables at rest using an AWS managed KMS key (aws/lambda). This is a built-in behavior of the Lambda service, so no additional configuration is required in the SAM template to achieve encryption at rest. The developer does not need to take any action beyond deploying the function.
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.
- ✓
No action needed; SAM automatically encrypts environment variables at rest using a default KMS key.
Why this is correct
SAM uses AWS managed keys to encrypt environment variables by default.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable encryption in the SAM template using the 'Encrypt' property.
Why it's wrong here
There is no 'Encrypt' property; encryption is automatic.
- ✗
Modify the Lambda function's code to encrypt environment variables before deployment.
Why it's wrong here
Environment variables are encrypted at rest automatically; code modification is unnecessary.
- ✗
Create a customer managed KMS key and specify it in the SAM template.
Why it's wrong here
While you can use a custom key, it's not the most straightforward way.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume they must explicitly enable encryption or use a custom KMS key, overlooking that Lambda automatically encrypts environment variables at rest by default with an AWS managed key.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Lambda automatically encrypts environment variables at rest using the AWS managed KMS key (aws/lambda) when the function is created or updated. This encryption occurs transparently in the Lambda service, and the variables are decrypted only when the function is invoked. If you need to use a customer managed KMS key for compliance or key rotation policies, you can specify it in the SAM template via the KmsKeyArn property under the Function resource, but this is optional and not required for basic encryption at rest.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
What to study next
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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: No action needed; SAM automatically encrypts environment variables at rest using a default KMS key. — AWS SAM, by default, encrypts Lambda function environment variables at rest using an AWS managed KMS key (aws/lambda). This is a built-in behavior of the Lambda service, so no additional configuration is required in the SAM template to achieve encryption at rest. The developer does not need to take any action beyond deploying the function.
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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