A company uses AWS CloudTrail to log all API calls in their AWS account for compliance and security auditing. Their compliance officer needs to prove to an external auditor that the CloudTrail log files have not been altered or deleted after they were created. The company must use the most cost-effective and built-in AWS feature to detect any tampering with the log files. What should the company enable?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
Best answer
Enable CloudTrail log file integrity validation
Correct. Log file integrity validation uses hash-based digital signatures to verify that CloudTrail log files have not been modified or deleted after they were delivered to the S3 bucket. It is a built-in, cost-effective feature designed for this purpose.
Distractor review
Enable server-side encryption for the CloudTrail log file S3 bucket using SSE-KMS
Incorrect. Server-side encryption protects the confidentiality of the log files at rest, but it does not provide any mechanism to detect tampering or verify that the files have not been altered. Encryption does not ensure integrity.
Distractor review
Configure CloudTrail to send logs to CloudWatch Logs and set a metric filter for changes
Incorrect. Sending logs to CloudWatch Logs allows real-time monitoring and alerting based on log content, but it does not provide a cryptographic verification that the original log files stored in S3 have not been tampered with. The CloudWatch Logs copy could also be altered.
Distractor review
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) delete on the S3 bucket
Incorrect. MFA delete adds an additional authentication requirement to delete objects, which helps prevent unauthorized deletion. However, it does not detect or prevent modification of the log file content after it is written, nor does it provide any integrity verification.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A developer needs to launch a test server for a new application prototype. The developer logs into the AWS Management Console, selects an Amazon EC2 instance type, configures the security group, and starts the instance. The instance is running within two minutes, and the developer did not need to submit a formal request to the company's IT procurement team or wait for approval from a cloud administrator. Which essential characteristic of cloud computing does this scenario best demonstrate?
Question 2
A solutions architect is planning a new web application on AWS. The workload will include 3 Amazon EC2 instances (t3.medium) running 24/7, an Application Load Balancer, and an Amazon RDS for MySQL db.t3.small database. The architect needs to estimate the monthly cost for the first year, considering different purchasing options (On-Demand, 1-year All Upfront Reserved Instance, and Compute Savings Plan). Which AWS tool should the architect use to create this estimate?
Question 3
A company's development team frequently needs temporary test environments. A developer can log into the AWS Management Console, select an Amazon EC2 instance type, configure storage, and launch the instance within minutes without any interaction with the IT infrastructure team. This capability is an example of which essential characteristic of cloud computing?
Question 4
A company's finance team needs to analyze AWS spending in detail. They require a report that includes hourly cost data for each AWS service, each individual resource (e.g., a specific EC2 instance), and any cost allocation tags applied. The team plans to export this data to an Amazon S3 bucket and then import it into a custom business intelligence (BI) analytics dashboard. Which AWS tool should the finance team use to generate this level of detailed cost data?
Question 5
A company uses AWS for its development environment. The finance team wants to set a monthly budget of $10,000. They want to receive an email notification when the actual costs reach 80% of the budget ($8,000) and again when costs exceed the budget. The team needs a managed AWS service that can automatically send these alerts without requiring custom code or third-party tools. Which AWS service should the team use?
Question 6
A company uses AWS Organizations to manage multiple accounts. The security team needs to enforce a policy that restricts SSH access (port 22) from the internet (0.0.0.0/0) in all VPCs across all accounts. The team wants to centrally define the allowed rules and automatically apply them to newly created VPCs and security groups, while also automatically remediating any existing non-compliant security groups. Which AWS service should the team use?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CLF-C02 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable CloudTrail log file integrity validation — CloudTrail log file integrity validation is a built-in feature that allows you to verify that the log files have not been modified or deleted after delivery. It uses hash chains to provide a cryptographically verifiable record of the logs. This feature requires no additional cost beyond the standard CloudTrail usage. Server-side encryption (SSE-KMS) protects data at rest but does not provide integrity verification. Sending logs to CloudWatch Logs and using metric filters helps with monitoring but does not ensure the original log files are unaltered. MFA delete prevents accidental or unauthorized deletion of objects but does not detect tampering after the fact.
What should I do if I get this CLF-C02 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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