- A
Use a customer managed KMS key with EBS encryption.
Customer managed keys give full control over key lifecycle and permissions.
- B
Encrypt data using client-side encryption before writing to EBS.
Why wrong: Client-side encryption adds complexity and does not leverage EBS-native encryption.
- C
Use an AWS managed KMS key for EBS encryption.
Why wrong: AWS managed keys cannot be customized or controlled by the customer.
- D
Enable EBS encryption by default in the account.
Why wrong: Default encryption uses AWS managed keys unless specified.
Question 1,631 of 1,748
SCS-C02 Customer managed KMS key Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of data protection. 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. A key principle to apply: customer managed KMS key. 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 needs to protect data at rest on Amazon EBS volumes attached to EC2 instances. Which solution provides the most control over the encryption keys?
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
✓
Use a customer managed KMS key with EBS encryption.
Option A is correct because using a customer managed KMS key allows the customer to control key rotation, policies, and access, providing the most control over encryption keys. Option B is wrong because client-side encryption requires application changes and does not leverage KMS for control. Option C is wrong because AWS managed keys do not allow customer control over key policies or rotation. Option D is wrong because enabling EBS encryption by default uses AWS managed keys unless a customer managed key is specified, thus not providing the most control.
Key principle: Customer managed KMS key
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Use a customer managed KMS key with EBS encryption.
Why this is correct
Customer managed keys give full control over key lifecycle and permissions.
Related concept
Customer managed KMS key
- ✗
Encrypt data using client-side encryption before writing to EBS.
Why it's wrong here
Client-side encryption adds complexity and does not leverage EBS-native encryption.
- ✗
Use an AWS managed KMS key for EBS encryption.
Why it's wrong here
AWS managed keys cannot be customized or controlled by the customer.
- ✗
Enable EBS encryption by default in the account.
Why it's wrong here
Default encryption uses AWS managed keys unless specified.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
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
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Customer managed KMS key
- AWS managed KMS key
- EBS encryption by default
- Client-side encryption
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
Customer managed KMS key
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.
Review customer managed KMS key, then practise related SCS-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
- →
Data Protection — study guide chapter
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Data Protection practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Data Protection — This question tests Data Protection — Customer managed KMS key.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a customer managed KMS key with EBS encryption. — Option A is correct because using a customer managed KMS key allows the customer to control key rotation, policies, and access, providing the most control over encryption keys. Option B is wrong because client-side encryption requires application changes and does not leverage KMS for control. Option C is wrong because AWS managed keys do not allow customer control over key policies or rotation. Option D is wrong because enabling EBS encryption by default uses AWS managed keys unless a customer managed key is specified, thus not providing the most control.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review customer managed KMS key, then practise related SCS-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Customer managed KMS key
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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