- A
Update the application code to supply the correct encryption context "purpose" = "myapp-secrets" when calling decrypt (and encrypt if rotating).
If the KMS key policy enforces an encryption context match, decrypt must provide the same context keys and values used during encryption. Aligning the encryption context fixes policy enforcement without weakening the key policy.
- B
Add kms:Decrypt to the IAM role attached to the application without changing the key policy.
Why wrong: IAM permissions alone are insufficient because the key policy also restricts kms:Decrypt using encryption context conditions.
- C
Disable the encryption context condition in the KMS key policy to avoid future failures.
Why wrong: Removing the condition weakens the intended security boundary and violates the reason the condition was added in the first place.
- D
Rotate the KMS key immediately and re-encrypt all secrets with a different key ID.
Why wrong: Key rotation and re-encryption are disruptive and not required to address a mismatch in the encryption context used for decrypt.
Quick Answer
The answer is to update the application code to supply the correct encryption context "purpose" = "myapp-secrets" when calling decrypt. This is the best fix because AWS KMS evaluates encryption context as part of the key policy condition; if the decrypt call lacks the exact key-value pair required, the request is denied regardless of IAM permissions. The KMS encryption context decrypt failure occurs because the condition acts as a cryptographic access control—without the matching context, the key policy explicitly blocks the operation. On the SAA-C03 exam, this tests your understanding that encryption context is not optional for condition keys; it must be provided identically in both encrypt and decrypt calls. A common trap is assuming IAM alone controls access, but key policy conditions override broader permissions. Memory tip: think of the encryption context as a secret handshake—both sides must use the exact same phrase for the door to open.
SAA-C03 Design Secure Architectures Practice Question
This SAA-C03 practice question tests your understanding of design secure architectures. 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.
An application encrypts data directly with AWS KMS using an encryption context. Your KMS key policy includes a condition that allows kms:Decrypt only when the encryption context contains: "purpose" = "myapp-secrets" After a deployment, decryption fails. CloudTrail shows kms:Decrypt was called, but it was denied by the key policy due to the encryption context condition. What is the best fix?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Update the application code to supply the correct encryption context "purpose" = "myapp-secrets" when calling decrypt (and encrypt if rotating).
Option A is correct because the decryption failure is directly caused by the application not supplying the required encryption context in the decrypt call. The KMS key policy condition explicitly requires the encryption context to include 'purpose'='myapp-secrets' for kms:Decrypt. Without this context, the request is denied regardless of IAM permissions. Updating the application code to pass the correct encryption context during both encrypt and decrypt operations resolves the issue.
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.
- ✓
Update the application code to supply the correct encryption context "purpose" = "myapp-secrets" when calling decrypt (and encrypt if rotating).
Why this is correct
If the KMS key policy enforces an encryption context match, decrypt must provide the same context keys and values used during encryption. Aligning the encryption context fixes policy enforcement without weakening the key policy.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Add kms:Decrypt to the IAM role attached to the application without changing the key policy.
Why it's wrong here
IAM permissions alone are insufficient because the key policy also restricts kms:Decrypt using encryption context conditions.
- ✗
Disable the encryption context condition in the KMS key policy to avoid future failures.
Why it's wrong here
Removing the condition weakens the intended security boundary and violates the reason the condition was added in the first place.
- ✗
Rotate the KMS key immediately and re-encrypt all secrets with a different key ID.
Why it's wrong here
Key rotation and re-encryption are disruptive and not required to address a mismatch in the encryption context used for decrypt.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think IAM permissions alone can override key policy conditions, but KMS requires both IAM and key policy to allow an action, and conditions in the key policy are evaluated strictly.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Encryption context in AWS KMS is a set of key-value pairs that are cryptographically bound to the ciphertext, meaning the same context must be provided during decryption as was used during encryption. The key policy condition using kms:EncryptionContextKeys or kms:EncryptionContext:... evaluates the context at the time of the API call, not the stored ciphertext. This ensures that even if an attacker gains access to the ciphertext, they cannot decrypt it without knowing the exact context, providing an additional layer of access control beyond IAM.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAA-C03 question test?
Design Secure Architectures — This question tests Design Secure Architectures — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Update the application code to supply the correct encryption context "purpose" = "myapp-secrets" when calling decrypt (and encrypt if rotating). — Option A is correct because the decryption failure is directly caused by the application not supplying the required encryption context in the decrypt call. The KMS key policy condition explicitly requires the encryption context to include 'purpose'='myapp-secrets' for kms:Decrypt. Without this context, the request is denied regardless of IAM permissions. Updating the application code to pass the correct encryption context during both encrypt and decrypt operations resolves the issue.
What should I do if I get this SAA-C03 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: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This SAA-C03 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SAA-C03 exam.
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