Quick Answer
The answer is AWS CloudTrail because it is the service that records all API calls made to the AWS environment, including the DeleteCluster API action that would remove an Amazon Redshift cluster. When a cluster is accidentally deleted, CloudTrail captures the event details such as who initiated the deletion, the source IP, and the exact timestamp, allowing the data engineer to confirm the deletion and investigate the root cause. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of which service provides an audit trail for resource lifecycle changes versus monitoring performance or configuration compliance. A common trap is choosing AWS Config, which tracks resource configuration changes but is less direct for investigating specific API-driven deletions; CloudTrail is the definitive source for answering “who deleted what and when.” Remember the mnemonic: “CloudTrail tracks the trail of API calls, while Config checks the config of resources.”
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data security and governance. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 troubleshooting an Amazon Redshift cluster that is not responding to queries. The engineer suspects that the cluster may have been accidentally deleted. Which AWS service should be used to investigate the deletion?
AWS Config
Why wrong: Config shows resource changes but not who deleted it.
AWS CloudTrail
CloudTrail logs API calls like DeleteCluster.
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
Why wrong: CloudWatch Logs doesn't record API calls by default.
AWS Trusted Advisor
Why wrong: Trusted Advisor does not audit API calls.
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 A is correct because AWS CloudTrail records DeleteCluster API calls. Option B is wrong because CloudWatch Logs stores logs but not API calls. Option C is wrong because AWS Config records resource changes, not deletions? Actually Config would show a deletion, but CloudTrail is more direct for API calls. The best answer is CloudTrail. Option D is wrong because AWS Trusted Advisor is for best practices.
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.
AWS Config
Why it's wrong here
Config shows resource changes but not who deleted it.
AWS CloudTrail
Why this is correct
CloudTrail logs API calls like DeleteCluster.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
Why it's wrong here
CloudWatch Logs doesn't record API calls by default.
AWS Trusted Advisor
Why it's wrong here
Trusted Advisor does not audit API calls.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Config shows resource changes but not who deleted it.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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.
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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: AWS CloudTrail — Option A is correct because AWS CloudTrail records DeleteCluster API calls. Option B is wrong because CloudWatch Logs stores logs but not API calls. Option C is wrong because AWS Config records resource changes, not deletions? Actually Config would show a deletion, but CloudTrail is more direct for API calls. The best answer is CloudTrail. Option D is wrong because AWS Trusted Advisor is for best practices.
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.
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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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