- A
Create a scheduled job that runs every 30 days to update the secret in Secrets Manager with a new password.
Why wrong: This is manual and does not handle automatic rotation of the database password.
- B
Store the credentials in AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store and configure automatic rotation using a Lambda function.
Why wrong: Parameter Store does not natively support rotation for RDS credentials.
- C
Use the AWS RDS automatic password rotation feature, which automatically updates the password every 30 days.
Why wrong: RDS does not have an automatic password rotation feature without Secrets Manager.
- D
Configure Secrets Manager to automatically rotate the secret every 30 days using a Lambda rotation function, and have the application retrieve the secret using the Secrets Manager API.
Secrets Manager provides built-in rotation for RDS with a Lambda function, and the application can retrieve credentials on-the-fly.
Quick Answer
The correct solution is to configure Secrets Manager to automatically rotate the secret every 30 days using a Lambda rotation function, with the application retrieving the secret via the Secrets Manager API. This works because Secrets Manager natively integrates with a custom or provided Lambda function that updates both the secret value in Secrets Manager and the password directly on the RDS for MySQL instance, ensuring the database and the secret store stay synchronized. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the managed rotation lifecycle—specifically that the application never needs to know the password directly, only the secret ARN, which eliminates code changes. A common trap is assuming you must modify the application to handle rotation or that you need to manually update the RDS password; instead, the Lambda function handles both sides. Memory tip: “Lambda links the lock and the key”—the Lambda function is the bridge that rotates the credential in both Secrets Manager and RDS simultaneously.
DOP-C02 Security and Compliance Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. 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 company has a requirement to rotate database credentials every 30 days for an Amazon RDS for MySQL instance. The credentials are currently stored in AWS Secrets Manager. The DevOps engineer needs to implement automatic rotation without modifying the application code. Which solution should be used?
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
Configure Secrets Manager to automatically rotate the secret every 30 days using a Lambda rotation function, and have the application retrieve the secret using the Secrets Manager API.
Option D is correct because AWS Secrets Manager natively supports automatic rotation of secrets using a Lambda function that updates both the secret in Secrets Manager and the password in the RDS MySQL instance. This solution meets the 30-day rotation requirement without modifying application code, as the application retrieves the current secret via the Secrets Manager API, which automatically handles versioning and caching.
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.
- ✗
Create a scheduled job that runs every 30 days to update the secret in Secrets Manager with a new password.
Why it's wrong here
This is manual and does not handle automatic rotation of the database password.
- ✗
Store the credentials in AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store and configure automatic rotation using a Lambda function.
Why it's wrong here
Parameter Store does not natively support rotation for RDS credentials.
- ✗
Use the AWS RDS automatic password rotation feature, which automatically updates the password every 30 days.
Why it's wrong here
RDS does not have an automatic password rotation feature without Secrets Manager.
- ✓
Configure Secrets Manager to automatically rotate the secret every 30 days using a Lambda rotation function, and have the application retrieve the secret using the Secrets Manager API.
Why this is correct
Secrets Manager provides built-in rotation for RDS with a Lambda function, and the application can retrieve credentials on-the-fly.
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 may confuse AWS Secrets Manager's automatic rotation with a simple scheduled update of the secret value, or mistakenly believe that RDS or Parameter Store have built-in rotation capabilities, when in fact only Secrets Manager with a Lambda rotation function provides a fully automated, code-free solution.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Secrets Manager rotation uses a Lambda function that follows a four-phase rotation strategy: createSecret, setSecret, testSecret, and finishSecret. The Lambda function generates a new password, updates the RDS MySQL user's password using the MySQL client or SDK, and then marks the new secret version as current. The application retrieves the secret using the GetSecretValue API, which returns the current version, and can cache the secret with automatic refresh to avoid frequent API calls.
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.
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.
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Security and Compliance — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DOP-C02 question test?
Security and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure Secrets Manager to automatically rotate the secret every 30 days using a Lambda rotation function, and have the application retrieve the secret using the Secrets Manager API. — Option D is correct because AWS Secrets Manager natively supports automatic rotation of secrets using a Lambda function that updates both the secret in Secrets Manager and the password in the RDS MySQL instance. This solution meets the 30-day rotation requirement without modifying application code, as the application retrieves the current secret via the Secrets Manager API, which automatically handles versioning and caching.
What should I do if I get this DOP-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: Jun 11, 2026
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