- A
Increase the Lambda function timeout.
A longer timeout can prevent timeout errors.
- B
Increase the Lambda function memory.
Why wrong: Memory increase does not extend timeout.
- C
Place the Lambda function in the same VPC as the RDS instance.
Why wrong: This addresses network connectivity, not timeout.
- D
Configure the Lambda function to retry on failure.
Why wrong: Retries won't help if each attempt times out.
Question 1,665 of 1,750
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 Secrets Manager to rotate secrets for an RDS database. The rotation Lambda function fails with a timeout error. Which configuration change is MOST likely to resolve the issue?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
✓
Increase the Lambda function timeout.
The Lambda function is timing out during the secret rotation process, which involves connecting to the RDS database, generating a new password, and updating the secret. Increasing the Lambda function timeout directly addresses the symptom by allowing more time for the rotation to complete, especially if the database response is slow or the network latency is high. This is the most direct fix for a timeout error, as the default Lambda timeout (3 seconds) is often insufficient for database operations.
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.
- ✓
Increase the Lambda function timeout.
Why this is correct
A longer timeout can prevent timeout errors.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Increase the Lambda function memory.
Why it's wrong here
Memory increase does not extend timeout.
- ✗
Place the Lambda function in the same VPC as the RDS instance.
Why it's wrong here
This addresses network connectivity, not timeout.
- ✗
Configure the Lambda function to retry on failure.
Why it's wrong here
Retries won't help if each attempt times out.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse a timeout error with a connectivity error and incorrectly choose to place the Lambda in the same VPC, overlooking that the function must already be in the VPC to even attempt the rotation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS Secrets Manager rotation uses a Lambda function that must complete within the function's configured timeout (default 3 seconds, max 15 minutes). The rotation process involves four steps: createSecret, setSecret, testSecret, and finishSecret, each of which may require database queries. If the database is under load or the network has high latency, the cumulative time can exceed the timeout, making a timeout increase the appropriate fix. In practice, a common cause is the Lambda function's VPC configuration requiring a NAT gateway or VPC endpoints, which can add latency, but the direct fix for the timeout error itself is increasing the timeout 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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
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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Security and Compliance — study guide chapter
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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: Increase the Lambda function timeout. — The Lambda function is timing out during the secret rotation process, which involves connecting to the RDS database, generating a new password, and updating the secret. Increasing the Lambda function timeout directly addresses the symptom by allowing more time for the rotation to complete, especially if the database response is slow or the network latency is high. This is the most direct fix for a timeout error, as the default Lambda timeout (3 seconds) is often insufficient for database operations.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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