- A
Store the secrets in the Elastic Beanstalk environment configuration as plain text under 'aws:elasticbeanstalk:application:environment'.
Why wrong: Storing secrets in plain text is insecure and not recommended.
- B
Configure Secrets Manager to automatically push secrets to Elastic Beanstalk environment properties.
Why wrong: Secrets Manager does not support push notifications to Elastic Beanstalk.
- C
Use an Elastic Beanstalk platform hook script that retrieves secrets from Secrets Manager and sets them as environment variables.
Platform hooks can run scripts during deployment to fetch secrets and set environment variables.
- D
Use AWS CloudFormation dynamic references to inject secrets into the Elastic Beanstalk environment.
Why wrong: Dynamic references are for CloudFormation resources, not for Elastic Beanstalk environment properties.
DOP-C02 Configuration Management and IaC Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of configuration management and iac. 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.
A company uses AWS Elastic Beanstalk to deploy a web application. The application requires environment-specific configuration values (database URL, API keys) that must be stored securely and rotated automatically. The team uses AWS Secrets Manager. Which configuration management strategy should the team implement to securely inject secrets into the Elastic Beanstalk environment?
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
Use an Elastic Beanstalk platform hook script that retrieves secrets from Secrets Manager and sets them as environment variables.
Option C is correct because Elastic Beanstalk platform hooks allow custom scripts to run during deployment, enabling retrieval of secrets from AWS Secrets Manager and setting them as environment variables before the application starts. This approach keeps secrets out of the environment configuration and supports automatic rotation by having the script fetch the latest secret value on each deployment.
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 the secrets in the Elastic Beanstalk environment configuration as plain text under 'aws:elasticbeanstalk:application:environment'.
Why it's wrong here
Storing secrets in plain text is insecure and not recommended.
- ✗
Configure Secrets Manager to automatically push secrets to Elastic Beanstalk environment properties.
Why it's wrong here
Secrets Manager does not support push notifications to Elastic Beanstalk.
- ✓
Use an Elastic Beanstalk platform hook script that retrieves secrets from Secrets Manager and sets them as environment variables.
Why this is correct
Platform hooks can run scripts during deployment to fetch secrets and set environment variables.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS CloudFormation dynamic references to inject secrets into the Elastic Beanstalk environment.
Why it's wrong here
Dynamic references are for CloudFormation resources, not for Elastic Beanstalk environment properties.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume CloudFormation dynamic references (Option D) are the best fit for automatic rotation, but they only inject secrets at deployment time and do not handle in-place rotation without a stack update, whereas platform hooks can be used to fetch the latest secret on every instance start or deployment.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Elastic Beanstalk platform hooks (e.g., .platform/hooks/predeploy) execute shell scripts as the root user during the deployment lifecycle, allowing secure retrieval of secrets via the AWS CLI or SDK. The script can use the IAM instance profile attached to the Elastic Beanstalk environment to call Secrets Manager's GetSecretValue API, then export the secret as an environment variable (e.g., export DATABASE_URL=$(aws secretsmanager get-secret-value --secret-id my-secret --query SecretString --output text)). This method ensures that the secret is never stored in the environment configuration or application code, and the script can be triggered on each deployment to pick up the latest rotated value.
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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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DOP-C02 question test?
Configuration Management and IaC — This question tests Configuration Management and IaC — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use an Elastic Beanstalk platform hook script that retrieves secrets from Secrets Manager and sets them as environment variables. — Option C is correct because Elastic Beanstalk platform hooks allow custom scripts to run during deployment, enabling retrieval of secrets from AWS Secrets Manager and setting them as environment variables before the application starts. This approach keeps secrets out of the environment configuration and supports automatic rotation by having the script fetch the latest secret value on each deployment.
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 24, 2026
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