- A
Use AWS KMS to generate a data key and store it in the Lambda environment variable.
Why wrong: KMS does not store secrets; it only provides encryption keys.
- B
Store the password in AWS Secrets Manager and retrieve it in the Lambda function using the AWS SDK.
Secrets Manager supports automatic rotation and secure retrieval.
- C
Store the password in AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store and reference it in the Lambda function.
Why wrong: Parameter Store can store secrets but does not support automatic rotation.
- D
Encrypt the password using AWS KMS and store it in Amazon DynamoDB.
Why wrong: DynamoDB is not designed for secret management and rotation.
Question 1,334 of 1,616
Storing and Rotating Secrets for AWS Lambda with AWS Secrets Manager
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of development with aws services. 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 developer is deploying a new version of an AWS Lambda function. The function uses an environment variable for a database password. The developer wants to securely store the password and automatically rotate it. Which combination of AWS services should the developer use?
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
✓
Store the password in AWS Secrets Manager and retrieve it in the Lambda function using the AWS SDK.
Option B is correct because AWS Secrets Manager is specifically designed to securely store secrets like database passwords, supports automatic rotation of secrets, and integrates with Lambda via the AWS SDK to retrieve the secret at runtime. This ensures the password is never hardcoded or exposed in environment variables, and rotation can be scheduled without code changes.
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 KMS to generate a data key and store it in the Lambda environment variable.
Why it's wrong here
KMS does not store secrets; it only provides encryption keys.
- ✓
Store the password in AWS Secrets Manager and retrieve it in the Lambda function using the AWS SDK.
Why this is correct
Secrets Manager supports automatic rotation and secure retrieval.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Store the password in AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store and reference it in the Lambda function.
Why it's wrong here
Parameter Store can store secrets but does not support automatic rotation.
- ✗
Encrypt the password using AWS KMS and store it in Amazon DynamoDB.
Why it's wrong here
DynamoDB is not designed for secret management and rotation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse Parameter Store (Option C) with Secrets Manager, but Parameter Store lacks built-in automatic rotation, which is explicitly required in the question, making Secrets Manager the only correct choice.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Secrets Manager uses AWS KMS to encrypt secrets at rest and in transit, and it can automatically rotate secrets by invoking a Lambda rotation function that updates the secret and the target database or service. The Lambda function retrieves the secret via the AWS SDK using the GetSecretValue API, which returns the decrypted password, and the secret ARN is typically passed as an environment variable to avoid hardcoding. This pattern is critical in production environments where database credentials must be rotated frequently to comply with security policies.
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
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: Store the password in AWS Secrets Manager and retrieve it in the Lambda function using the AWS SDK. — Option B is correct because AWS Secrets Manager is specifically designed to securely store secrets like database passwords, supports automatic rotation of secrets, and integrates with Lambda via the AWS SDK to retrieve the secret at runtime. This ensures the password is never hardcoded or exposed in environment variables, and rotation can be scheduled without code changes.
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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