- A
Create a CloudWatch Events rule to notify the security team before the rotation date.
Correct: CloudWatch Events can notify the security team before the scheduled rotation date, ensuring awareness.
- B
Configure an S3 bucket policy to enforce key rotation.
Why wrong: S3 bucket policy cannot enforce KMS key rotation.
- C
Enable automatic key rotation on the KMS key.
Correct: Enabling automatic key rotation on the KMS key ensures the backing key is rotated annually without manual intervention.
- D
Ensure the key policy allows the kms:RotateKeyOnDemand action.
Why wrong: Automatic rotation does not require this permission; it is managed by KMS.
- E
Create a new KMS key every year and update the application to use the new key.
Correct: Creating a new KMS key every year and updating the application to use it ensures keys are rotated annually, though it is a manual process.
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.
A company uses AWS KMS to encrypt data at rest in S3. The security team wants to ensure that KMS keys are rotated automatically every year. Which THREE steps should be taken?
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
Create a CloudWatch Events rule to notify the security team before the rotation date.
Option A is correct because Amazon CloudWatch Events can be configured to send a notification (e.g., via SNS or email) to the security team before the scheduled annual key rotation date, ensuring awareness of the rotation. Option B is incorrect because S3 bucket policies cannot enforce KMS key rotation; key rotation is a property of the KMS key itself. Option C is correct because enabling automatic key rotation on a symmetric KMS key causes AWS KMS to rotate the backing key annually, meeting the requirement for automated rotation. Option D is incorrect because there is no `kms:RotateKeyOnDemand` action; automatic rotation does not require a specific key policy action, and manual rotation uses `ScheduleKeyDeletion` or creating new keys. Option E is correct because creating a new KMS key each year and updating the application to use the new key is a valid manual approach to ensure annual key rotation, fulfilling the security team's requirement to rotate keys every year.
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 CloudWatch Events rule to notify the security team before the rotation date.
Why this is correct
Correct: CloudWatch Events can notify the security team before the scheduled rotation date, ensuring awareness.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure an S3 bucket policy to enforce key rotation.
Why it's wrong here
S3 bucket policy cannot enforce KMS key rotation.
- ✓
Enable automatic key rotation on the KMS key.
Why this is correct
Correct: Enabling automatic key rotation on the KMS key ensures the backing key is rotated annually without manual intervention.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Ensure the key policy allows the kms:RotateKeyOnDemand action.
Why it's wrong here
Automatic rotation does not require this permission; it is managed by KMS.
- ✓
Create a new KMS key every year and update the application to use the new key.
Why this is correct
Correct: Creating a new KMS key every year and updating the application to use it ensures keys are rotated annually, though it is a manual process.
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 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.
Quick reference
Symmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Size | Block Size | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AES-128 | 128-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | NIST approved; WPA3, TLS |
| AES-256 | 256-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | Preferred for sensitive / govt data |
| 3DES | 112-bit effective | 64-bit | Deprecated (2023) | Replaced by AES |
| DES | 56-bit | 64-bit | Broken | Cracked in < 24 h; never deploy |
| ChaCha20 | 256-bit | Stream cipher | Current | TLS 1.3, WireGuard |
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.
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Security and Compliance — study guide chapter
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Security and Compliance practice questions
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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: Create a CloudWatch Events rule to notify the security team before the rotation date. — Option A is correct because Amazon CloudWatch Events can be configured to send a notification (e.g., via SNS or email) to the security team before the scheduled annual key rotation date, ensuring awareness of the rotation. Option B is incorrect because S3 bucket policies cannot enforce KMS key rotation; key rotation is a property of the KMS key itself. Option C is correct because enabling automatic key rotation on a symmetric KMS key causes AWS KMS to rotate the backing key annually, meeting the requirement for automated rotation. Option D is incorrect because there is no `kms:RotateKeyOnDemand` action; automatic rotation does not require a specific key policy action, and manual rotation uses `ScheduleKeyDeletion` or creating new keys. Option E is correct because creating a new KMS key each year and updating the application to use the new key is a valid manual approach to ensure annual key rotation, fulfilling the security team's requirement to rotate keys every year.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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