VA-003 Compare and configure secrets engines Practice Question
A developer wants to store an API key for their application in Vault using the key-value secrets engine. They need to be able to retrieve the key and also roll back to a previous version if needed. Which secrets engine configuration should they use?
⚠ Common exam trap
HashiCorp often tests the distinction between KV v1 and KV v2, where candidates mistakenly assume all KV engines support versioning, or confuse the Transit engine's encryption capabilities with secret storage.
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
✓
Enable the KV v2 secrets engine at a custom path
The KV v2 secrets engine supports versioning, allowing retrieval of previous versions and rollback capabilities. This directly meets the requirement to store an API key and revert to an older version if needed. KV v1 does not support versioning, while Transit and Database engines serve different purposes (encryption and dynamic credentials, respectively).
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 the Transit secrets engine at a custom path
Why it's wrong here
Transit is for encryption, not for storing secrets directly.
- ✓
Enable the KV v2 secrets engine at a custom path
Why this is correct
KV v2 supports versioning and rollback to previous versions.
- ✗
Enable the KV v1 secrets engine at a custom path
Why it's wrong here
KV v1 does not support versioning; cannot roll back.
- ✗
Enable the Database secrets engine at a custom path
Why it's wrong here
Database engine generates dynamic credentials, not for storing static secrets.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This VA-003 practice question is part of Courseiva's free HashiCorp 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 VA-003 exam.