The correct answer is to create an Amazon EventBridge rule that matches the CreateAccessKey event and targets an SNS topic. This works because EventBridge natively ingests AWS CloudTrail API activity logs and allows you to define event patterns that filter for specific IAM actions, such as CreateAccessKey, then route those matched events to a notification endpoint like SNS for real-time alerting with minimal overhead—no custom code or additional infrastructure is required. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of event-driven security monitoring and the distinction between CloudTrail-based event filtering (EventBridge) versus resource-configuration evaluation (AWS Config) or log-query tools (CloudTrail Insights). A common trap is confusing S3 event notifications, which only react to object-level operations, with API-level alerts. Memory tip: think "EventBridge for API events, Config for resource state, S3 notifications for objects."
DOP-C02 Monitoring and Logging Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring and logging. 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 uses AWS CloudTrail to log API activity. The security team needs to be alerted when an IAM user creates a new access key. How can this be achieved with minimal overhead?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create an Amazon EventBridge rule that matches the 'CreateAccessKey' event and targets an SNS topic.
Option B is correct because CloudWatch Events (now part of EventBridge) can filter CloudTrail events and invoke a Lambda function to send an alert. Option A is wrong because S3 event notifications are for object-level events, not API calls. Option C is wrong because CloudWatch Logs Insights is a query tool, not a real-time alerting mechanism. Option D is wrong because Config rules evaluate resource configurations, not API calls.
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.
✗
Use CloudWatch Logs Insights to run a query every hour and send results via email.
Why it's wrong here
This is not real-time and requires manual setup for email.
✗
Set up an AWS Config rule to detect when an access key is created.
Why it's wrong here
Config evaluates resource compliance, not API events.
✗
Configure S3 event notifications on the CloudTrail bucket to trigger a Lambda function.
Why it's wrong here
S3 events are for object creation, not for specific API calls.
✓
Create an Amazon EventBridge rule that matches the 'CreateAccessKey' event and targets an SNS topic.
Why this is correct
EventBridge can filter CloudTrail events and send alerts via SNS.
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 DOP-C02 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.
Monitoring and Logging — This question tests Monitoring and Logging — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create an Amazon EventBridge rule that matches the 'CreateAccessKey' event and targets an SNS topic. — Option B is correct because CloudWatch Events (now part of EventBridge) can filter CloudTrail events and invoke a Lambda function to send an alert. Option A is wrong because S3 event notifications are for object-level events, not API calls. Option C is wrong because CloudWatch Logs Insights is a query tool, not a real-time alerting mechanism. Option D is wrong because Config rules evaluate resource configurations, not API calls.
What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which DOP-C02 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.
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 →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
This DOP-C02 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 DOP-C02 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.