The answer is SSE-KMS and SSE-S3, as both are valid ways to encrypt data at rest in Amazon S3. SSE-S3 uses AES-256 encryption with Amazon-managed keys, meaning S3 handles all key management transparently—encrypting objects upon write and decrypting them on read without any configuration from you. SSE-KMS, on the other hand, gives you more control by integrating with AWS KMS, allowing you to manage separate keys, set rotation policies, and enforce encryption context. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this topic tests your understanding of the three server-side encryption options: SSE-S3, SSE-KMS, and SSE-C (customer-provided keys). A common trap is assuming SSE-S3 requires manual key management or that SSE-C is the only option for compliance—it’s not, as SSE-KMS also satisfies many audit requirements. Memory tip: think “S3 for simplicity, KMS for control”—if you need audit trails or key rotation, pick KMS; if you just need default encryption, pick S3.
DVA-C02 Security Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security. 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.
Which TWO actions are valid ways to encrypt data at rest in Amazon S3? (Choose TWO.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use S3-managed keys (SSE-S3)
SSE-S3 is a valid server-side encryption option where Amazon S3 manages the encryption keys on your behalf. When you upload an object, S3 encrypts the data using AES-256 before writing it to disk and decrypts it when you access it, all without requiring any additional configuration or key management from you.
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 S3-managed keys (SSE-S3)
Why this is correct
SSE-S3 encrypts data at rest with S3-managed keys.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use client-side encryption with a KMS key
Why it's wrong here
Client-side encryption encrypts data before sending to S3; it's not S3-side encryption at rest.
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 often confuse encryption at rest with encryption in transit, leading them to select SSL/TLS (Option C) as a valid answer, or they mistakenly think client-side encryption with KMS (Option B) is a server-side encryption method for S3.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SSE-S3 uses a unique envelope key per object, which is itself encrypted with a master key that S3 rotates regularly. This approach provides a simple, low-cost encryption solution for most workloads, but it does not allow you to control key rotation, access logging, or enforce separation of duties, which is why SSE-KMS is preferred for compliance-sensitive environments.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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 S3-managed keys (SSE-S3) — SSE-S3 is a valid server-side encryption option where Amazon S3 manages the encryption keys on your behalf. When you upload an object, S3 encrypts the data using AES-256 before writing it to disk and decrypts it when you access it, all without requiring any additional configuration or key management from you.
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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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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