- A
Enable AWS CloudTrail logging for the EKS cluster.
Why wrong: CloudTrail is not a specific PCI requirement for EKS.
- B
Install Calico for network policy enforcement.
Why wrong: Calico is a network policy option, but not a PCI-specific requirement.
- C
Configure IAM roles and RBAC policies to limit access.
Access control is required for PCI DSS.
- D
Use Bottlerocket as the node operating system.
Why wrong: Bottlerocket is a security-focused OS but not a requirement.
- E
Enable secret encryption using AWS KMS.
Encryption of secrets at rest is required for PCI DSS.
Question 1,109 of 1,746
SAP-C02 Design for New Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design for new solutions. 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 designing a new application that will be deployed on Amazon EKS. The application must meet PCI DSS compliance requirements. Which TWO steps should the solutions architect take to secure the cluster?
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
✓
Configure IAM roles and RBAC policies to limit access.
Option C is correct because PCI DSS Requirement 7 mandates strict access controls. In Amazon EKS, combining IAM roles for cluster-level authentication with Kubernetes RBAC for namespace-level authorization ensures least-privilege access, which is a core compliance requirement. This dual-layer approach prevents unauthorized API calls and pod-level actions.
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 AWS CloudTrail logging for the EKS cluster.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail is not a specific PCI requirement for EKS.
- ✗
Install Calico for network policy enforcement.
Why it's wrong here
Calico is a network policy option, but not a PCI-specific requirement.
- ✓
Configure IAM roles and RBAC policies to limit access.
Why this is correct
Access control is required for PCI DSS.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use Bottlerocket as the node operating system.
Why it's wrong here
Bottlerocket is a security-focused OS but not a requirement.
- ✓
Enable secret encryption using AWS KMS.
Why this is correct
Encryption of secrets at rest is required for PCI DSS.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse auditing (CloudTrail) with security enforcement, or assume that network policies (Calico) or OS hardening (Bottlerocket) are PCI DSS requirements, when the exam specifically tests the two mandatory controls: access management (IAM + RBAC) and encryption at rest (KMS).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
IAM roles for service accounts (IRSA) allow pods to assume IAM roles via OIDC federation, while RBAC uses RoleBindings and ClusterRoleBindings to map IAM users/groups to Kubernetes verbs (get, list, create, delete). Secret encryption with AWS KMS uses envelope encryption: the EKS cluster generates a data encryption key (DEK) that is encrypted by a KMS key, and the DEK is stored in etcd; this ensures secrets at rest are encrypted, satisfying PCI DSS Requirement 3.4.
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.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
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 SAP-C02 question test?
Design for New Solutions — This question tests Design for New Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure IAM roles and RBAC policies to limit access. — Option C is correct because PCI DSS Requirement 7 mandates strict access controls. In Amazon EKS, combining IAM roles for cluster-level authentication with Kubernetes RBAC for namespace-level authorization ensures least-privilege access, which is a core compliance requirement. This dual-layer approach prevents unauthorized API calls and pod-level actions.
What should I do if I get this SAP-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: Jul 4, 2026
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