diff --git a/gen3workflow/aws_utils.py b/gen3workflow/aws_utils.py
index 1cbc9f3..64c9b72 100644
--- a/gen3workflow/aws_utils.py
+++ b/gen3workflow/aws_utils.py
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@
 
 
 iam_client = boto3.client("iam")
-iam_resp_err = "Unexpected response from AWS IAM"
+kms_client = boto3.client("kms", region_name=config["USER_BUCKETS_REGION"])
+s3_client = boto3.client("s3")
 
 
 def get_safe_name_from_hostname(user_id: Union[str, None]) -> str:
@@ -48,7 +49,6 @@ def create_user_bucket(user_id: str) -> Tuple[str, str, str]:
         tuple: (bucket name, prefix where the user stores objects in the bucket, bucket region)
     """
     user_bucket_name = get_safe_name_from_hostname(user_id)
-    s3_client = boto3.client("s3")
     if config["USER_BUCKETS_REGION"] == "us-east-1":
         # it's the default region and cannot be specified in `LocationConstraint`
         s3_client.create_bucket(Bucket=user_bucket_name)
@@ -63,7 +63,6 @@ def create_user_bucket(user_id: str) -> Tuple[str, str, str]:
 
     # set up KMS encryption on the bucket.
     # the only way to check if the KMS key has already been created is to use an alias
-    kms_client = boto3.client("kms", region_name=config["USER_BUCKETS_REGION"])
     kms_key_alias = f"alias/key-{user_bucket_name}"
     try:
         output = kms_client.describe_key(KeyId=kms_key_alias)
diff --git a/tests/test_misc.py b/tests/test_misc.py
index 48f4c0d..8c8bda4 100644
--- a/tests/test_misc.py
+++ b/tests/test_misc.py
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 import boto3
+import json
 from moto import mock_aws
 import pytest
 
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+
 from conftest import TEST_USER_ID
 from gen3workflow import aws_utils
 from gen3workflow.aws_utils import get_safe_name_from_hostname
@@ -39,8 +42,11 @@ def test_get_safe_name_from_hostname(reset_config_hostname):
 async def test_storage_info(client, access_token_patcher):
     with mock_aws():
         aws_utils.iam_client = boto3.client("iam")
-        expected_bucket_name = f"gen3wf-{config['HOSTNAME']}-{TEST_USER_ID}"
+        aws_utils.kms_client = boto3.client("kms")
+        aws_utils.s3_client = boto3.client("s3")
 
+        # check that the user's storage information is as expected
+        expected_bucket_name = f"gen3wf-{config['HOSTNAME']}-{TEST_USER_ID}"
         res = await client.get("/storage/info", headers={"Authorization": "bearer 123"})
         assert res.status_code == 200, res.text
         storage_info = res.json()
@@ -49,3 +55,58 @@ async def test_storage_info(client, access_token_patcher):
             "workdir": f"s3://{expected_bucket_name}/ga4gh-tes",
             "region": config["USER_BUCKETS_REGION"],
         }
+
+        # check that the bucket is setup with KMS encryption
+        kms_key = aws_utils.kms_client.describe_key(
+            KeyId=f"alias/key-{expected_bucket_name}"
+        )
+        kms_key_arn = kms_key["KeyMetadata"]["Arn"]
+        bucket_encryption = aws_utils.s3_client.get_bucket_encryption(
+            Bucket=expected_bucket_name
+        )
+        assert bucket_encryption.get("ServerSideEncryptionConfiguration") == {
+            "Rules": [
+                {
+                    "ApplyServerSideEncryptionByDefault": {
+                        "SSEAlgorithm": "aws:kms",
+                        "KMSMasterKeyID": kms_key_arn,
+                    },
+                    "BucketKeyEnabled": True,
+                }
+            ]
+        }
+
+        # check the bucket policy, which should enforce KMS encryption
+        bucket_policy = aws_utils.s3_client.get_bucket_policy(
+            Bucket=expected_bucket_name
+        )
+        assert json.loads(bucket_policy.get("Policy", "{}")) == {
+            "Version": "2012-10-17",
+            "Statement": [
+                {
+                    "Sid": "RequireKMSEncryption",
+                    "Effect": "Deny",
+                    "Principal": "*",
+                    "Action": "s3:PutObject",
+                    "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::gen3wf-localhost-64/*",
+                    "Condition": {
+                        "StringNotLikeIfExists": {
+                            "s3:x-amz-server-side-encryption-aws-kms-key-id": kms_key_arn
+                        }
+                    },
+                }
+            ],
+        }
+
+        # check the bucket's lifecycle configuration
+        lifecycle_config = aws_utils.s3_client.get_bucket_lifecycle_configuration(
+            Bucket=expected_bucket_name
+        )
+        assert lifecycle_config.get("Rules") == [
+            {
+                "Expiration": {"Days": config["S3_OBJECTS_EXPIRATION_DAYS"]},
+                "ID": "None",
+                "Filter": {"Prefix": ""},
+                "Status": "Enabled",
+            }
+        ]