Quick Answer
The answer is to use IAM roles instead of long-term access keys to enforce key rotation. This is correct because IAM roles eliminate the need for any manual or automated rotation by issuing temporary security credentials through AWS Security Token Service (STS), which automatically expire—typically within one hour, up to a maximum of twelve hours—and are transparently refreshed by the AWS SDK or CLI. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this concept tests your understanding of the Well-Architected Framework’s principle of using temporary credentials to avoid access keys IAM roles rotation pitfalls; a common trap is choosing a solution that rotates keys programmatically rather than removing them entirely. Remember the memory tip: “Roles rotate themselves, keys need a shelf.”
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 security audit reveals that an IAM user has long-term access keys that have not been rotated in over 90 days. What is the most secure way to enforce key rotation?
Use an AWS Lambda function to automatically rotate keys.
Why wrong: Lambda can rotate keys but it's complex; roles are simpler.
Manually rotate keys every 90 days.
Why wrong: Manual rotation is error-prone and not automated.
Use IAM roles instead of long-term access keys.
IAM roles provide temporary credentials that do not require rotation.
Delete the user and create a new one.
Why wrong: This is disruptive and not a best practice.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Use IAM roles instead of long-term access keys.
Option C is correct because the most secure way to eliminate the risk of long-term access key compromise is to avoid using them altogether. IAM roles provide temporary security credentials via AWS Security Token Service (STS), which automatically expire (default 1 hour, max 12 hours) and are rotated transparently by the AWS SDK or CLI. This removes the need for manual or automated key rotation, aligning with the AWS Well-Architected Framework's principle of using temporary credentials.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Use an AWS Lambda function to automatically rotate keys.
Why it's wrong here
Lambda can rotate keys but it's complex; roles are simpler.
Manually rotate keys every 90 days.
Why it's wrong here
Manual rotation is error-prone and not automated.
Use IAM roles instead of long-term access keys.
Why this is correct
IAM roles provide temporary credentials that do not require rotation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Delete the user and create a new one.
Why it's wrong here
This is disruptive and not a best practice.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates focus on 'rotation' as a process (automated or manual) rather than recognizing that the most secure solution is to eliminate the need for rotation entirely by using IAM roles with temporary credentials.
Detailed technical explanation
IAM roles use AWS STS to issue temporary credentials via the AssumeRole API, which returns an AccessKeyId, SecretAccessKey, and SessionToken with a configurable expiration (1–12 hours). The AWS SDKs and CLI automatically handle credential refresh by calling AssumeRole again before expiry, making rotation seamless. In contrast, long-term IAM user keys are static and must be rotated manually or via automation, which is inherently less secure because the key material persists until explicitly changed.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Security and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Use IAM roles instead of long-term access keys. — Option C is correct because the most secure way to eliminate the risk of long-term access key compromise is to avoid using them altogether. IAM roles provide temporary security credentials via AWS Security Token Service (STS), which automatically expire (default 1 hour, max 12 hours) and are rotated transparently by the AWS SDK or CLI. This removes the need for manual or automated key rotation, aligning with the AWS Well-Architected Framework's principle of using temporary credentials.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This DOP-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 DOP-C02 exam.
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