VA-003 Compare and configure secrets engines Practice Question
A Vault administrator configures an AWS secrets engine role with credential_type=iam_user and attaches a policy that allows creating EC2 instances. A developer generates credentials and uses them to launch an EC2 instance. Later the lease expires and Vault revokes the IAM user. What happens to the EC2 instance?
⚠ Common exam trap
HashiCorp often tests the misconception that revoking IAM credentials will immediately impact running resources, but in AWS, IAM revocation only affects future API calls, not existing instances.
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
✓
The instance continues to run because IAM user revocation does not affect running instances
When Vault revokes an IAM user, it deletes the IAM user credentials, but this does not affect resources already launched by that user. The EC2 instance runs under its own instance profile and is not tied to the IAM user's session after launch. AWS does not retroactively terminate or stop instances based on IAM user revocation; the instance continues to run until explicitly stopped or terminated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
The instance continues to run because IAM user revocation does not affect running instances
Why this is correct
Correct; the instance uses its instance profile.
- ✗
The instance fails with a permission error
Why it's wrong here
No; the instance continues to operate normally.
- ✗
The instance is immediately terminated
Why it's wrong here
No; the instance is independent of the IAM user after launch.
- ✗
The instance is stopped after a grace period
Why it's wrong here
No grace period; instance remains running.
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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.