Quick Answer
The most secure way to configure a secure SAP HANA backup to S3 with KMS encryption is to use SSE-KMS with a customer managed key and restrict key usage through key policies. This approach gives you full control over the encryption key, including the ability to define who can use it, rotate it, and audit its usage via AWS CloudTrail, which is essential for meeting strict compliance requirements. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of encryption options for S3 backups and the principle of least privilege; a common trap is choosing SSE-S3 (option A) because it is simpler, but it uses AWS-managed keys that do not allow you to enforce granular access controls. Remember the memory tip: "Customer managed key for customer control" — if the scenario mentions existing KMS usage and the need for the most secure configuration, always pick the option that lets you manage the key policy yourself.
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of technology. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 SAP HANA on AWS and needs to back up the database to Amazon S3. The backup must be encrypted at rest in S3. The company already uses AWS KMS for encryption. What is the MOST secure way to configure the backup?
Use SSE-KMS with a customer managed key and restrict key usage with key policies.
Provides control and integration with existing KMS.
Use client-side encryption before uploading to S3.
Why wrong: Adds complexity and key management overhead.
Enable default S3 encryption with SSE-S3.
Why wrong: Uses AWS-managed keys, not company's KMS keys.
Use SSE-KMS with the AWS managed key for S3.
Why wrong: AWS managed key, not customer managed.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Use SSE-KMS with a customer managed key and restrict key usage with key policies.
Option D is correct because using a customer managed key with appropriate key policies ensures the backup is encrypted and access is controlled. Option A is wrong because SSE-S3 uses AWS-managed keys, not the company's KMS keys. Option B is wrong because SSE-C requires managing keys yourself, which is less integrated. Option C is wrong because SSE-KMS with an AWS managed key does not allow the same level of control.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Use SSE-KMS with a customer managed key and restrict key usage with key policies.
Why this is correct
Provides control and integration with existing KMS.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Use client-side encryption before uploading to S3.
Why it's wrong here
Adds complexity and key management overhead.
Enable default S3 encryption with SSE-S3.
Why it's wrong here
Uses AWS-managed keys, not company's KMS keys.
Use SSE-KMS with the AWS managed key for S3.
Why it's wrong here
AWS managed key, not customer managed.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which PAS-C01 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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FAQ
Technology — This question tests Technology — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Use SSE-KMS with a customer managed key and restrict key usage with key policies. — Option D is correct because using a customer managed key with appropriate key policies ensures the backup is encrypted and access is controlled. Option A is wrong because SSE-S3 uses AWS-managed keys, not the company's KMS keys. Option B is wrong because SSE-C requires managing keys yourself, which is less integrated. Option C is wrong because SSE-KMS with an AWS managed key does not allow the same level of control.
Identify which PAS-C01 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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company wants to automate the backup of its SAP HANA database to Amazon S3. The database is running on an EC2 instance with a 500 GB gp3 volume. The backup should be encrypted at rest in S3. What is the most efficient way to achieve this with minimal operational overhead?
easyWhy A: Option A is correct because SAP HANA Backup and Restore integration with S3 is native and handles encryption. Option B is wrong because it adds an extra step. Option C is wrong because S3 replication does not replace the backup process. Option D is wrong because AWS Backup supports HANA but requires additional setup and may not be as efficient as native integration.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This PAS-C01 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 PAS-C01 exam.
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