VA-003 Explain encryption as a service Practice Question
A security auditor requires that all encryption keys used to protect customer data must be periodically rotated according to company policy. The company uses Vault's Transit secrets engine. What is the recommended approach to rotate the encryption key?
⚠ Common exam trap
HashiCorp often tests the misconception that 'rewrapping' is the same as 'rotating,' but rewrapping only re-encrypts data under a new key version without creating a new key version, whereas rotation creates a new key version and is the correct first step in a key lifecycle management process.
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 -f transit/keys/my-key/rotate` command to rotate the key
The Vault Transit secrets engine provides a dedicated `rotate` endpoint that creates a new encryption key version while keeping the previous version available for decryption of existing ciphertext. This allows the key to be rotated without re-encrypting all data, and the new key version is automatically used for future encryption operations. The `-f` flag forces the rotation without requiring interactive confirmation.
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 Vault's key rotation endpoint to rewrap the key
Why it's wrong here
There is no 'rewrap' rotation endpoint; rotation is done via `rotate` and `rewrap` is a separate operation for ciphertexts.
- ✓
Use the `vault write -f transit/keys/my-key/rotate` command to rotate the key
Why this is correct
This creates a new key version; old ciphertexts remain decryptable with the previous version.
- ✗
Delete the existing key and create a new one with the same name
Why it's wrong here
Deleting the key would make existing ciphertexts undecryptable.
- ✗
Generate a new key with a different name and update the application configuration
Why it's wrong here
While possible, this is not the recommended approach as it requires application changes and does not leverage Vault's versioning.
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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.