The correct actions are to enable default encryption on the S3 bucket using SSE-KMS and to enable CloudTrail data events for S3 object-level operations. SSE-KMS encrypts data at rest with centrally managed keys, giving you control over key rotation and audit trails, which is critical for data lake encryption and compliance. CloudTrail data events log every read, write, and delete on objects, providing the granular access logging needed for regulatory audits. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this pairing tests your understanding that encryption alone isn’t enough—you must also log who accessed what. A common trap is choosing server-side encryption with S3-managed keys (SSE-S3), which lacks the auditability of KMS. Remember the mnemonic: “KMS for keys, CloudTrail for trails.”
DEA-C01 Data Operations and Support Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data operations and support. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
A data engineer is designing a data lake on Amazon S3 with sensitive data. The engineer needs to ensure that data at rest is encrypted and that access is logged for compliance. Which TWO actions should the engineer take? (Choose TWO.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable CloudTrail data events for S3 object-level operations.
Option C is correct because enabling CloudTrail data events for S3 object-level operations captures detailed logs of all read, write, and delete actions on objects, which is essential for compliance auditing. Option D is correct because enabling default encryption on the S3 bucket using SSE-KMS ensures that all objects stored in the bucket are encrypted at rest with AWS Key Management Service (KMS) keys, providing centralized control and auditability of encryption keys.
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.
✗
Enable S3 Select to filter data at read time.
Why it's wrong here
S3 Select is a query feature, not a security or logging feature.
✗
Enable S3 Transfer Acceleration.
Why it's wrong here
Transfer Acceleration speeds up uploads, not security.
✓
Enable CloudTrail data events for S3 object-level operations.
Why this is correct
CloudTrail data events log read/write operations to objects.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket using SSE-KMS.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable S3 Block Public Access on the account.
Why it's wrong here
Block Public Access prevents public access but does not provide logging.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse S3 Block Public Access (a security control) with encryption or logging, or they mistakenly think S3 Select or Transfer Acceleration contribute to compliance requirements, when they are unrelated to data-at-rest encryption and access logging.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CloudTrail data events for S3 object-level operations log actions such as GetObject, PutObject, and DeleteObject at the object level, and these logs are delivered to an S3 bucket or CloudWatch Logs for analysis. SSE-KMS uses envelope encryption where a customer master key (CMK) encrypts a data key, which then encrypts the object; this allows key rotation and integration with CloudTrail for key usage auditing, a subtle but critical requirement for compliance frameworks like PCI DSS or HIPAA.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Data Operations and Support — This question tests Data Operations and Support — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable CloudTrail data events for S3 object-level operations. — Option C is correct because enabling CloudTrail data events for S3 object-level operations captures detailed logs of all read, write, and delete actions on objects, which is essential for compliance auditing. Option D is correct because enabling default encryption on the S3 bucket using SSE-KMS ensures that all objects stored in the bucket are encrypted at rest with AWS Key Management Service (KMS) keys, providing centralized control and auditability of encryption keys.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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