- A
The secret has a resource-based policy that denies the Lambda function.
Why wrong: Secrets Manager supports resource-based policies, but by default they allow.
- B
The Lambda function's execution role does not have the necessary IAM permissions to update the secret.
The execution role must allow secretsmanager:PutSecretValue.
- C
The KMS key used to encrypt the secret is not accessible by the Lambda function.
Why wrong: KMS key access is for encryption, not for update.
- D
The Lambda function is not in the same VPC as the Secrets Manager endpoint.
Why wrong: Secrets Manager is a public service; no VPC required.
Question 1,225 of 1,616
Fixing Secrets Manager Rotation Lambda Permission Denied
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 Secrets Manager to rotate database credentials. The rotation process uses a Lambda function that updates the secret. The developer notices that the rotation sometimes fails because the Lambda function does not have permission to update the secret. What is the MOST likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
✓
The Lambda function's execution role does not have the necessary IAM permissions to update the secret.
The correct answer is B. The Lambda function's execution role must have IAM permissions to update the secret (e.g., secretsmanager:PutSecretValue). Without these permissions, the rotation will fail. Option A is incorrect because resource-based policies on secrets are not commonly denied to Lambda functions; the primary issue is the execution role. Option C is incorrect because KMS permissions are needed to decrypt the secret, but the update action itself requires IAM permissions on the secret. Option D is incorrect because VPC configuration does not affect IAM permissions; the Lambda can call Secrets Manager over the internet or via a VPC endpoint, but that is not the cause of permission failure.
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.
- ✗
The secret has a resource-based policy that denies the Lambda function.
Why it's wrong here
Secrets Manager supports resource-based policies, but by default they allow.
- ✓
The Lambda function's execution role does not have the necessary IAM permissions to update the secret.
Why this is correct
The execution role must allow secretsmanager:PutSecretValue.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The KMS key used to encrypt the secret is not accessible by the Lambda function.
Why it's wrong here
KMS key access is for encryption, not for update.
- ✗
The Lambda function is not in the same VPC as the Secrets Manager endpoint.
Why it's wrong here
Secrets Manager is a public service; no VPC required.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
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.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DVA-C02 question test?
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: The Lambda function's execution role does not have the necessary IAM permissions to update the secret. — The correct answer is B. The Lambda function's execution role must have IAM permissions to update the secret (e.g., secretsmanager:PutSecretValue). Without these permissions, the rotation will fail. Option A is incorrect because resource-based policies on secrets are not commonly denied to Lambda functions; the primary issue is the execution role. Option C is incorrect because KMS permissions are needed to decrypt the secret, but the update action itself requires IAM permissions on the secret. Option D is incorrect because VPC configuration does not affect IAM permissions; the Lambda can call Secrets Manager over the internet or via a VPC endpoint, but that is not the cause of permission failure.
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 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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