- A
Use the `vault write transit/keys/credit-cards/undelete` API to recover the soft-deleted key version
Soft-delete allows undeletion of key versions quickly and without data loss.
- B
Restore the entire Vault cluster from the latest backup snapshot
Why wrong: Backup restoration is time-consuming and may result in loss of recent data; it should be a last resort.
- C
Use the `rewrap` endpoint to re-encrypt all ciphertexts with the current key version
Why wrong: Rewrap requires the original key to be available; without it, the ciphertexts cannot be decrypted.
- D
Restore the deleted key version from a secondary Vault cluster using replication
Why wrong: Replication may not have the version if it was deleted; also, this assumes a secondary cluster exists and is up-to-date.
VA-003 Explain encryption as a service Practice Question
This VA-003 practice question tests your understanding of explain encryption as a service. 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 fintech company uses Vault Transit to encrypt credit card numbers (PANs) for PCI-DSS compliance. The security team enforces key rotation every 30 days, and Vault keeps previous key versions to allow decryption of old data. One day, a developer accidentally runs a command that deletes the latest key version before the rotation is complete. The company has Vault configured with key version soft-delete enabled. The incident response team needs to recover the ability to decrypt ciphertexts that were encrypted with the deleted key version. Which action should they take first?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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 the `vault write transit/keys/credit-cards/undelete` API to recover the soft-deleted key version
Option A is correct because Vault's Transit secrets engine supports soft-delete for key versions, which allows recovery of a deleted key version using the `undelete` API before the deletion grace period expires. Since the company has soft-delete enabled, the key version is not permanently purged and can be restored without data loss, enabling decryption of ciphertexts encrypted with that version.
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.
- ✓
Use the `vault write transit/keys/credit-cards/undelete` API to recover the soft-deleted key version
Why this is correct
Soft-delete allows undeletion of key versions quickly and without data loss.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Restore the entire Vault cluster from the latest backup snapshot
Why it's wrong here
Backup restoration is time-consuming and may result in loss of recent data; it should be a last resort.
- ✗
Use the `rewrap` endpoint to re-encrypt all ciphertexts with the current key version
Why it's wrong here
Rewrap requires the original key to be available; without it, the ciphertexts cannot be decrypted.
- ✗
Restore the deleted key version from a secondary Vault cluster using replication
Why it's wrong here
Replication may not have the version if it was deleted; also, this assumes a secondary cluster exists and is up-to-date.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
HashiCorp often tests the distinction between soft-delete and permanent deletion, and the trap here is that candidates may assume a deleted key version is irrecoverable and jump to a disruptive recovery method like restoring from backup, ignoring the soft-delete feature specifically designed for this scenario.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Vault's Transit engine implements key version soft-delete by marking the key version as deleted but retaining its material in storage for a configurable `delete_version_after` period (default is 0, meaning immediate purge unless soft-delete is explicitly enabled). The `undelete` API restores the key version's metadata and material, allowing decryption operations to resume. In real-world scenarios, this prevents catastrophic data loss when a key version is accidentally removed during rotation, as long as the recovery is performed within the soft-delete window.
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 practitioner preparing for the VA-003 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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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Explain encryption as a service — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this VA-003 question test?
Explain encryption as a service — This question tests Explain encryption as a service — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use the `vault write transit/keys/credit-cards/undelete` API to recover the soft-deleted key version — Option A is correct because Vault's Transit secrets engine supports soft-delete for key versions, which allows recovery of a deleted key version using the `undelete` API before the deletion grace period expires. Since the company has soft-delete enabled, the key version is not permanently purged and can be restored without data loss, enabling decryption of ciphertexts encrypted with that version.
What should I do if I get this VA-003 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
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 30, 2026
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.
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