- A
The 'suppress_decryption' parameter was enabled on the transit mount, blocking decryption. Disable it.
Why wrong: There is no such parameter as suppress_decryption in transit.
- B
The key was exported and reimported, losing the version history. Re-create the key from scratch.
Why wrong: Exporting and reimporting can maintain version history if done correctly; this is not the likely cause.
- C
The ciphertext was corrupted during storage. The only solution is to re-encrypt all data with the current key version.
Why wrong: Corruption is unlikely given the specific error message; the error indicates a versioning issue, not corruption.
- D
The 'min_decryption_version' is set to 3, preventing decryption with version 2. Set it to 2 to allow decryption.
Setting min_decryption_version to the oldest version that needs to be decryptable resolves the issue.
VA-003 Compare and configure secrets engines Practice Question
This VA-003 practice question tests your understanding of compare and configure secrets engines. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
An e-commerce application integrates with Vault's transit secrets engine to encrypt sensitive customer data before storing it in a database. The operations team regularly rotates the encryption key (my-key) for compliance. Recently, after a rotation, some old ciphertexts could not be decrypted, causing data retrieval failures. The team checked the key configuration and found that the key version used for encryption (version 2) is still present, but decryption fails with an error: 'decryption key version is not available for decryption'. They verified that the ciphertext includes the key version. What is the most likely cause and resolution?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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 'min_decryption_version' is set to 3, preventing decryption with version 2. Set it to 2 to allow decryption.
The error 'decryption key version is not available for decryption' indicates that the key version used to encrypt the data (version 2) is present but not allowed for decryption. In Vault's transit secrets engine, the `min_decryption_version` parameter controls the lowest key version that can decrypt data. If it is set to 3, version 2 ciphertexts cannot be decrypted. Setting `min_decryption_version` to 2 resolves the issue by permitting decryption with version 2.
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.
- ✗
The 'suppress_decryption' parameter was enabled on the transit mount, blocking decryption. Disable it.
Why it's wrong here
There is no such parameter as suppress_decryption in transit.
- ✗
The key was exported and reimported, losing the version history. Re-create the key from scratch.
Why it's wrong here
Exporting and reimporting can maintain version history if done correctly; this is not the likely cause.
- ✗
The ciphertext was corrupted during storage. The only solution is to re-encrypt all data with the current key version.
Why it's wrong here
Corruption is unlikely given the specific error message; the error indicates a versioning issue, not corruption.
- ✓
The 'min_decryption_version' is set to 3, preventing decryption with version 2. Set it to 2 to allow decryption.
Why this is correct
Setting min_decryption_version to the oldest version that needs to be decryptable resolves the issue.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
HashiCorp often tests the distinction between key version presence and decryption permission, where candidates mistakenly assume that if the key version exists, decryption should always work, overlooking the `min_decryption_version` constraint.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The transit secrets engine maintains a versioned key ring where each encryption operation uses the latest key version unless specified. The `min_decryption_version` parameter is set per key and defaults to 1; when rotated to a higher value, older ciphertexts become undecryptable. This is a common compliance requirement to enforce forward secrecy or retire compromised keys. The ciphertext includes the key version in its metadata, allowing Vault to check the version against `min_decryption_version` during decryption.
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 security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this VA-003 question test?
Compare and configure secrets engines — This question tests Compare and configure secrets engines — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The 'min_decryption_version' is set to 3, preventing decryption with version 2. Set it to 2 to allow decryption. — The error 'decryption key version is not available for decryption' indicates that the key version used to encrypt the data (version 2) is present but not allowed for decryption. In Vault's transit secrets engine, the `min_decryption_version` parameter controls the lowest key version that can decrypt data. If it is set to 3, version 2 ciphertexts cannot be decrypted. Setting `min_decryption_version` to 2 resolves the issue by permitting decryption with version 2.
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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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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