Quick Answer
The correct combination is AWS CloudTrail, S3 server access logs, and Amazon CloudWatch Logs. CloudTrail captures the identity of the principal making the API call and the source IP address, while S3 server access logs provide granular details on every request, including the action performed and the requester’s IP. CloudWatch Logs then ingests and centralizes these logs, enabling querying and alerting for a complete audit trail. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of how to combine CloudTrail and S3 server access logs for audit purposes, a common scenario for sensitive data governance. A frequent trap is confusing VPC Flow Logs (which only show network-level traffic) or AWS Config (which tracks configuration changes) with access logging. Remember the memory tip: “CloudTrail for who, S3 logs for what, CloudWatch to watch it all.”
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 data engineer needs to audit all access to an S3 bucket containing sensitive data. The engineer must capture who accessed the bucket, from which IP address, and what actions were performed. Which AWS services should be used together to meet this requirement? (Choose THREE.)
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
Can store and analyze logs from S3 and CloudTrail.
AWS Config
Why wrong: Tracks resource configuration changes, not access.
Amazon S3 server access logs
Logs object-level access details including requester and IP.
AWS CloudTrail
Records API calls with user identity and source IP.
VPC Flow Logs
Why wrong: Capture network traffic, not S3 API details.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
Options A, B, and D are correct. S3 server access logs record detailed information about requests. CloudTrail records API calls with identity and source IP. CloudWatch Logs can ingest and analyze logs. Option C is wrong because VPC Flow Logs capture network traffic but not S3 API details. Option E is wrong because Config records resource configuration changes, not access.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
Why this is correct
Can store and analyze logs from S3 and CloudTrail.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AWS Config
Why it's wrong here
Tracks resource configuration changes, not access.
Amazon S3 server access logs
Why this is correct
Logs object-level access details including requester and IP.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AWS CloudTrail
Why this is correct
Records API calls with user identity and source IP.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
VPC Flow Logs
Why it's wrong here
Capture network traffic, not S3 API details.
Common exam traps
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.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which DEA-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Data Security and Governance — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Data Security and Governance — This question tests Data Security and Governance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Amazon CloudWatch Logs — Options A, B, and D are correct. S3 server access logs record detailed information about requests. CloudTrail records API calls with identity and source IP. CloudWatch Logs can ingest and analyze logs. Option C is wrong because VPC Flow Logs capture network traffic but not S3 API details. Option E is wrong because Config records resource configuration changes, not access.
Identify which DEA-C01 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company needs to audit access to their Amazon S3 buckets. Which TWO services can be used together to achieve this? (Choose two.)
easyWhy C: CloudTrail records S3 API calls, and CloudWatch Logs can be used to store and monitor those logs. Config records configuration changes, not data access. S3 server access logs record object-level access, but the question asks for auditing access; CloudTrail with CloudWatch Logs is a common solution. S3 Inventory provides metadata, not access logs.
Variation 2. A data engineer needs to audit data access in Amazon S3 for compliance. Which TWO services can be used to capture and analyze S3 access logs? (Choose TWO.)
easyWhy B: Options B and D are correct. S3 server access logs capture detailed access logs, and AWS CloudTrail records API calls. Option A is wrong because Amazon Macie is for sensitive data discovery. Option C is wrong because Amazon CloudWatch is for monitoring metrics. Option E is wrong because AWS Config is for resource configuration.
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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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