Quick Answer
The answer is AWS CloudTrail. This service is specifically designed to audit all API calls made in an AWS account, including actions performed by the root user, by capturing detailed event records of every API operation for governance, compliance, and operational auditing. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of which service provides a complete, immutable record of account activity, often appearing as a straightforward distinction between CloudTrail and services like CloudWatch Logs, which stores logs but does not natively capture API calls, or AWS Config, which tracks resource configuration changes rather than API actions. A common trap is confusing CloudTrail with VPC Flow Logs, but remember that flow logs capture network traffic metadata, not API-level calls. To lock it in, think of CloudTrail as the “trail of breadcrumbs” for every API action—if it’s an API call, CloudTrail has it.
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data security and governance. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 company needs to audit all API calls made in their AWS account, including actions performed by the root user. Which AWS service should be used?
VPC Flow Logs
Why wrong: Flow Logs capture IP traffic information.
AWS CloudTrail
CloudTrail records API activity for auditing.
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
Why wrong: CloudWatch Logs can store logs but does not capture API calls.
AWS Config
Why wrong: Config tracks resource configuration changes.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
AWS CloudTrail
Option B is correct because AWS CloudTrail records all API calls for auditing. Option A is incorrect because CloudWatch Logs stores logs but does not capture API calls natively. Option C is incorrect because AWS Config tracks resource configuration changes, not API calls. Option D is incorrect because VPC Flow Logs capture network traffic, not API calls.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
VPC Flow Logs
Why it's wrong here
Flow Logs capture IP traffic information.
AWS CloudTrail
Why this is correct
CloudTrail records API activity for auditing.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
Why it's wrong here
CloudWatch Logs can store logs but does not capture API calls.
AWS Config
Why it's wrong here
Config tracks resource configuration changes.
Common exam traps
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DEA-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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FAQ
Data Security and Governance — This question tests Data Security and Governance — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
The correct answer is: AWS CloudTrail — Option B is correct because AWS CloudTrail records all API calls for auditing. Option A is incorrect because CloudWatch Logs stores logs but does not capture API calls natively. Option C is incorrect because AWS Config tracks resource configuration changes, not API calls. Option D is incorrect because VPC Flow Logs capture network traffic, not API calls.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DEA-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This DEA-C01 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services 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 DEA-C01 exam.
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