The answer is to create a new KMS key with automatic rotation set to 90 days and update the trail with the new key. This is required because you cannot change the rotation period of an existing customer managed key; the rotation period is a fixed property set at creation time. To meet the 90-day rotation requirement, you must generate a new KMS key with the desired rotation schedule and then update the CloudTrail configuration using the --kms-key-id parameter to point to that new key. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that CloudTrail delegates key management to KMS—you update the trail, not the key’s rotation. A common trap is assuming you can modify an existing key’s rotation period, but KMS only allows enabling or disabling automatic rotation, not changing the interval. Memory tip: “Create, don’t mutate—rotation is set at birth.”
DOP-C02 Security and Compliance Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Network Topology
A DevOps engineer executed the CLI command shown in the exhibit. After creation, the security team requires that the log files be encrypted with a KMS key that is rotated every 90 days. The current key is a customer managed key with automatic rotation enabled set to 365 days. What should the engineer do to meet the requirement?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a new KMS key with automatic rotation set to 90 days and update the trail with the new key
To change the KMS key or its rotation period, you must update the trail. You can specify a new key with the --kms-key-id parameter when updating the trail. Changing the key rotation period is done through KMS, not CloudTrail. But the question is about meeting the 90-day rotation. The engineer should update the trail to use a different KMS key that has a rotation period of 90 days. Note: You cannot change the rotation period of an existing KMS key; you must create a new one. However, the options: B is correct because you can update the trail to use a new key with the desired rotation. A is wrong because you cannot change rotation period of existing key; you create a new key. C is wrong because the key is already used; you can't modify its rotation period. D is wrong because disabling rotation is opposite.
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 the existing key and change the rotation period in KMS
Why it's wrong here
Rotation period cannot be changed after creation.
✗
Disable automatic rotation and manually rotate the key every 90 days
Why it's wrong here
Manual rotation is error-prone and does not meet the automatic requirement.
✗
Modify the KMS key to set the rotation period to 90 days
Why it's wrong here
KMS key rotation period can only be set when creating the key; cannot be changed later.
✓
Create a new KMS key with automatic rotation set to 90 days and update the trail with the new key
Why this is correct
Create a new key with the desired rotation and update the trail's KMS key.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 DOP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: Create a new KMS key with automatic rotation set to 90 days and update the trail with the new key — To change the KMS key or its rotation period, you must update the trail. You can specify a new key with the --kms-key-id parameter when updating the trail. Changing the key rotation period is done through KMS, not CloudTrail. But the question is about meeting the 90-day rotation. The engineer should update the trail to use a different KMS key that has a rotation period of 90 days. Note: You cannot change the rotation period of an existing KMS key; you must create a new one. However, the options: B is correct because you can update the trail to use a new key with the desired rotation. A is wrong because you cannot change rotation period of existing key; you create a new key. C is wrong because the key is already used; you can't modify its rotation period. D is wrong because disabling rotation is opposite.
What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which DOP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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