Quick Answer
The answer is an AWS Lambda function, because Secrets Manager delegates the actual rotation logic to a Lambda function that you configure with the custom code to update the credential in both the service and the RDS database. When you enable automatic secret rotation, Secrets Manager invokes this Lambda function on the defined schedule, passing it the current secret and a pending version to rotate. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this concept tests your understanding that Secrets Manager handles the orchestration and scheduling, but the execution of the rotation—connecting to the database, generating a new password, and updating the secret—must be performed by a Lambda function. A common trap is to confuse EventBridge as the rotation resource; while EventBridge can trigger the rotation process, the actual rotation logic still lives in Lambda. Another trap is selecting AWS Config, which only evaluates compliance rules, not secret updates. Memory tip: think of Secrets Manager as the manager who schedules the task, and Lambda as the worker who actually rotates the lock.
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of management and security governance. 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 has a requirement to automatically rotate secrets for an RDS database every 90 days. The secrets are stored in AWS Secrets Manager. Which resource should be configured to perform the rotation?
CloudWatch Logs subscription filter
Why wrong: For streaming logs, not rotation.
Amazon EventBridge scheduled rule
Why wrong: Can trigger but does not perform rotation.
AWS Config rule
Why wrong: Not designed to rotate secrets.
AWS Lambda function
Performs the actual rotation.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
AWS Lambda function
Option D is correct because Secrets Manager uses a Lambda function to rotate secrets. Option A is wrong because AWS Config is for compliance, not rotation. Option B is wrong because Amazon EventBridge can trigger rotation but the actual rotation logic is in Lambda. Option C is wrong because CloudWatch Logs is for log storage.
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.
CloudWatch Logs subscription filter
Why it's wrong here
For streaming logs, not rotation.
Amazon EventBridge scheduled rule
Why it's wrong here
Can trigger but does not perform rotation.
AWS Config rule
Why it's wrong here
Not designed to rotate secrets.
AWS Lambda function
Why this is correct
Performs the actual rotation.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 SCS-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.
Management and Security Governance — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Management and Security Governance practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All SCS-C02 questions
1,738 questions across all exam domains
AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
SCS-C02 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Threat Detection and Incident Response.
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Security Logging and Monitoring.
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Identity and Access Management.
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Management and Security Governance.
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Infrastructure Security.
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Data Protection.
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to SCS-C02 fundamentals.
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to SCS-C02 scenario.
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to SCS-C02 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Management and Security Governance — This question tests Management and Security Governance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: AWS Lambda function — Option D is correct because Secrets Manager uses a Lambda function to rotate secrets. Option A is wrong because AWS Config is for compliance, not rotation. Option B is wrong because Amazon EventBridge can trigger rotation but the actual rotation logic is in Lambda. Option C is wrong because CloudWatch Logs is for log storage.
Identify which SCS-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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This SCS-C02 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 SCS-C02 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.