- A
Store the credentials in an S3 bucket with server-side encryption.
Why wrong: S3 is not designed for secure credential storage in buildspec.
- B
Store the credentials in AWS Secrets Manager and use the AWS CLI in the build phase to retrieve them.
Why wrong: Secrets Manager is possible but not directly integrated with buildspec; Parameter Store is simpler.
- C
Store the credentials in the buildspec.yml file as environment variables.
Why wrong: This exposes credentials in plaintext.
- D
Store the credentials in AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store and reference them in the buildspec.
Parameter Store can securely store and retrieve credentials.
Question 1,369 of 1,616
How to Reference Secrets in CodeBuild Using Parameter Store
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of development with aws services. 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 company uses AWS CodeBuild to build and test code. The buildspec.yml includes a pre-build phase that downloads dependencies from a private repository. The developer wants to securely store the credentials for the private repository. Which AWS service should the developer use to store these credentials and reference them in the buildspec?
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 credentials in AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store and reference them in the buildspec.
AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store is the correct choice because it provides secure, hierarchical storage for configuration data and secrets, and CodeBuild natively supports referencing parameters from Parameter Store directly in the buildspec.yml using the 'parameter-store' syntax. This eliminates the need for custom retrieval logic and integrates seamlessly with IAM for access control.
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.
- ✗
Store the credentials in an S3 bucket with server-side encryption.
Why it's wrong here
S3 is not designed for secure credential storage in buildspec.
- ✗
Store the credentials in AWS Secrets Manager and use the AWS CLI in the build phase to retrieve them.
Why it's wrong here
Secrets Manager is possible but not directly integrated with buildspec; Parameter Store is simpler.
- ✗
Store the credentials in the buildspec.yml file as environment variables.
Why it's wrong here
This exposes credentials in plaintext.
- ✓
Store the credentials in AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store and reference them in the buildspec.
Why this is correct
Parameter Store can securely store and retrieve credentials.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse AWS Secrets Manager with Systems Manager Parameter Store, assuming Secrets Manager is always the better choice for secrets, but CodeBuild's native 'parameter-store' support in buildspec.yml makes Parameter Store the simpler and more appropriate service for this specific use case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, CodeBuild resolves Parameter Store references during the build by calling the SSM GetParameter API with the IAM role attached to the build project, ensuring credentials never appear in logs or build output. A subtle behavior is that Parameter Store supports both plaintext and SecureString parameters; for credentials, you must use SecureString with the KMS key specified, and the build project's IAM role needs 'ssm:GetParameters' and 'kms:Decrypt' permissions. In a real-world scenario, this pattern is often used to inject database passwords or API tokens without hardcoding them, and the same parameter can be shared across multiple build projects.
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 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.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
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 credentials in AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store and reference them in the buildspec. — AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store is the correct choice because it provides secure, hierarchical storage for configuration data and secrets, and CodeBuild natively supports referencing parameters from Parameter Store directly in the buildspec.yml using the 'parameter-store' syntax. This eliminates the need for custom retrieval logic and integrates seamlessly with IAM for access control.
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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