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 should a developer take to securely manage database credentials in a serverless application?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Store credentials in AWS Secrets Manager and enable automatic rotation.
AWS Secrets Manager securely stores database credentials and supports automatic rotation, which reduces the risk of credential exposure and eliminates the need for manual updates. By integrating with Lambda via the AWS SDK, the application can retrieve credentials at runtime without embedding them in code or configuration files.
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 credentials in AWS Secrets Manager and enable automatic rotation.
Why this is correct
Secrets Manager securely stores and rotates credentials.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Use IAM database authentication for Amazon RDS.
Why this is correct
IAM authentication eliminates the need for passwords.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Store credentials in a text file within the Lambda deployment package.
Why it's wrong here
Deployment packages can be downloaded; storing secrets there is insecure.
✗
Hardcode credentials in environment variables.
Why it's wrong here
Environment variables can be exposed in logs or console.
✗
Use security groups to allow only the Lambda function to access the database.
Why it's wrong here
Security groups control network access, not authentication.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
AWS often tests the distinction between network-level controls (security groups) and credential management, leading candidates to mistakenly select security groups as a method for securing credentials rather than managing them.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS Secrets Manager uses envelope encryption with AWS KMS to protect secret data at rest, and the Lambda function retrieves secrets via the GetSecretValue API call over TLS. Automatic rotation integrates with Lambda custom rotation functions or AWS-managed rotation for services like RDS, ensuring credentials are changed on a schedule without application downtime. In a real-world scenario, a serverless app processing sensitive data can use Secrets Manager to rotate database passwords every 30 days, while IAM database authentication (Option B) eliminates passwords entirely by using IAM roles and short-lived authentication tokens for RDS.
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 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.
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: Store credentials in AWS Secrets Manager and enable automatic rotation. — AWS Secrets Manager securely stores database credentials and supports automatic rotation, which reduces the risk of credential exposure and eliminates the need for manual updates. By integrating with Lambda via the AWS SDK, the application can retrieve credentials at runtime without embedding them in code or configuration files.
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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