The answer is to enable audit logging on the Redshift cluster, configure the logs to be stored in an S3 bucket, and enable default encryption on that bucket using SSE-S3 or SSE-KMS. This works because Redshift’s audit logging captures all query activity, including connection attempts and SQL commands, and writes those logs to a specified S3 location; by enabling default encryption on the S3 bucket, you ensure the log files are encrypted at rest without any additional configuration. On the AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that Redshift audit logs are separate from CloudTrail user activity logs—a common trap is confusing CloudTrail for query auditing, but CloudTrail only records API calls, not database queries. Remember the memory tip: “Audit logs go to S3, not CloudTrail; encrypt the bucket, not the cluster.”
DEA-C01 Data Store Management Practice Question
This DEA-C01 practice question tests your understanding of data store management. 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 company stores sensitive financial data in an Amazon Redshift cluster. The data engineer must ensure that all queries are logged for audit purposes and that the logs are stored in Amazon S3 with server-side encryption. Which THREE steps should the data engineer take to meet these requirements?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure audit logs to be stored in an Amazon S3 bucket.
To audit queries, enable audit logging, set the bucket to S3, and ensure encryption is enabled. Option A is correct because audit logging captures query logs. Option B is correct because audit logs are stored in S3. Option D is correct because enabling default encryption on the S3 bucket encrypts the logs. Option C is wrong because user activity logging in CloudTrail does not capture query logs. Option E is wrong because enabling encryption on the Redshift cluster encrypts data at rest, not the audit logs.
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.
✓
Configure audit logs to be stored in an Amazon S3 bucket.
Why this is correct
Audit logs can be delivered to an S3 bucket.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable encryption on the Redshift cluster.
Why it's wrong here
Cluster encryption encrypts data at rest, not the audit logs.
✗
Enable AWS CloudTrail to log Redshift queries.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail logs API calls, not SQL queries.
✓
Enable audit logging on the Redshift cluster.
Why this is correct
Audit logging captures query logs and user activities.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket using SSE-S3 or SSE-KMS.
Why this is correct
Default encryption ensures all objects stored are encrypted.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
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.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
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 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 Store Management — This question tests Data Store Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure audit logs to be stored in an Amazon S3 bucket. — To audit queries, enable audit logging, set the bucket to S3, and ensure encryption is enabled. Option A is correct because audit logging captures query logs. Option B is correct because audit logs are stored in S3. Option D is correct because enabling default encryption on the S3 bucket encrypts the logs. Option C is wrong because user activity logging in CloudTrail does not capture query logs. Option E is wrong because enabling encryption on the Redshift cluster encrypts data at rest, not the audit logs.
What should I do if I get this DEA-C01 question wrong?
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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.
Question Discussion
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