The answer is to enable default encryption on the S3 bucket and select AWS-KMS as the encryption method. This works because default bucket encryption applies server-side encryption with KMS (SSE-KMS) to every object uploaded without requiring the client to include encryption headers, ensuring all new objects are automatically encrypted at rest. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how default encryption differs from bucket policies—policies can enforce encryption headers but do not automatically encrypt objects, making them a common trap. Remember, default encryption is a bucket-level setting that guarantees encryption, while policies only mandate it. A quick memory tip: "Default does the work; policy just checks the homework."
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 is using Amazon S3 to store sensitive data. The security team mandates that all data must be encrypted at rest using server-side encryption with AWS Key Management Service (SSE-KMS). The DevOps engineer must ensure that any new objects uploaded to the bucket are automatically encrypted. What should the engineer do?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket and select AWS-KMS as the encryption method.
Option A is correct because enabling default encryption on the S3 bucket with SSE-KMS ensures all objects are encrypted with KMS. Option B is wrong because bucket policies only enforce encryption headers, not default encryption, and can be bypassed. Option C is wrong because CORS is for cross-origin requests. Option D is wrong because versioning does not encrypt data.
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.
✗
Enable CORS on the bucket to allow encrypted uploads.
Why it's wrong here
CORS does not affect encryption.
✗
Apply a bucket policy that denies PutObject unless the request includes the x-amz-server-side-encryption header with aws:kms.
Why it's wrong here
This enforces encryption but does not automatically encrypt objects that lack the header.
✓
Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket and select AWS-KMS as the encryption method.
Why this is correct
Default encryption applies SSE-KMS to all objects.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable S3 Versioning to protect encrypted objects.
Why it's wrong here
Versioning does not encrypt objects.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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: Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket and select AWS-KMS as the encryption method. — Option A is correct because enabling default encryption on the S3 bucket with SSE-KMS ensures all objects are encrypted with KMS. Option B is wrong because bucket policies only enforce encryption headers, not default encryption, and can be bypassed. Option C is wrong because CORS is for cross-origin requests. Option D is wrong because versioning does not encrypt data.
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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