- A
Enable AWS CloudTrail to log all S3 API calls and send alerts when noncompliant buckets are created.
Why wrong: CloudTrail only logs, does not enforce.
- B
Use AWS Config managed rules to detect noncompliant buckets and automatically remediate by applying encryption and blocking public access.
AWS Config can detect and auto-remediate.
- C
Attach an IAM permissions boundary to all users that prevents them from creating or modifying S3 buckets.
Why wrong: Permissions boundary does not enforce specific bucket configurations.
- D
Apply an S3 bucket policy to each existing bucket that denies all access unless encryption is enabled.
Why wrong: Bucket policies do not enforce settings on future buckets.
- E
Create an SCP that denies the s3:PutBucketPublicAccessBlock and s3:PutBucketEncryption actions when the required settings are not specified.
SCPs can deny bucket creation if required settings are missing.
Quick Answer
The answer is to create an SCP that denies the s3:PutBucketPublicAccessBlock and s3:PutBucketEncryption actions when required settings are missing, and to use AWS Config managed rules with auto-remediation. This combination is correct because the SCP acts as a preventive guardrail at the organization level, blocking any API call that attempts to create or modify a bucket without encryption or public access blocks, while AWS Config provides detective and automated corrective enforcement by evaluating current buckets against rules like s3-bucket-server-side-encryption-enabled and s3-bucket-public-read-prohibited, then triggering Systems Manager Automation documents to fix noncompliant resources. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the layered defense model—SCPs for preventative policy and AWS Config for continuous compliance—and a common trap is choosing only one mechanism, such as relying solely on SCPs without realizing they cannot remediate existing noncompliant buckets. A useful memory tip is "SCP stops the bad request, Config fixes the bad bucket," reinforcing that both actions are required to enforce S3 encryption and block public access automatically for all current and future buckets.
DOP-C02 Security and Compliance Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. 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 financial services company is migrating its applications to AWS. The compliance team requires that all Amazon S3 buckets containing personally identifiable information (PII) must have server-side encryption enabled and block public access. The DevOps team discovers that some S3 buckets are not compliant. Which TWO actions should the team take to enforce these requirements automatically for all current and future buckets? (Select TWO.)
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Use AWS Config managed rules to detect noncompliant buckets and automatically remediate by applying encryption and blocking public access.
AWS Config managed rules (e.g., s3-bucket-server-side-encryption-enabled and s3-bucket-public-read-prohibited) can automatically detect noncompliant S3 buckets. Combined with AWS Config auto-remediation using Systems Manager Automation documents, the team can enforce encryption and block public access without manual intervention, ensuring all current and future buckets remain compliant.
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.
- ✗
Enable AWS CloudTrail to log all S3 API calls and send alerts when noncompliant buckets are created.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail only logs, does not enforce.
- ✓
Use AWS Config managed rules to detect noncompliant buckets and automatically remediate by applying encryption and blocking public access.
Why this is correct
AWS Config can detect and auto-remediate.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Attach an IAM permissions boundary to all users that prevents them from creating or modifying S3 buckets.
Why it's wrong here
Permissions boundary does not enforce specific bucket configurations.
- ✗
Apply an S3 bucket policy to each existing bucket that denies all access unless encryption is enabled.
Why it's wrong here
Bucket policies do not enforce settings on future buckets.
- ✓
Create an SCP that denies the s3:PutBucketPublicAccessBlock and s3:PutBucketEncryption actions when the required settings are not specified.
Why this is correct
SCPs can deny bucket creation if required settings are missing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse detective controls (like CloudTrail alerts) with preventive or corrective controls (like AWS Config auto-remediation or SCPs), leading them to select Option A instead of the automated enforcement mechanisms that actually fix noncompliant buckets.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS Config auto-remediation leverages SSM Automation documents (e.g., AWS-ConfigureS3BucketPublicAccessBlock and AWS-EnableS3BucketEncryption) to modify noncompliant resources. The managed rule evaluates bucket configurations against desired settings; when a violation is detected, the remediation action runs automatically. This approach ensures that even if a bucket is created with public access or without encryption, it is corrected within minutes, maintaining continuous compliance without manual overhead.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Security and Compliance — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Security and Compliance practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All DOP-C02 questions
1,740 questions across all exam domains
- →
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
DOP-C02 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related DOP-C02 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Configuration Management and IaC practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to Configuration Management and IaC.
Resilient Cloud Solutions practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to Resilient Cloud Solutions.
Monitoring and Logging practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to Monitoring and Logging.
Incident and Event Response practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to Incident and Event Response.
Security and Compliance practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to Security and Compliance.
SDLC Automation practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to SDLC Automation.
DOP-C02 fundamentals practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to DOP-C02 fundamentals.
DOP-C02 scenario practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to DOP-C02 scenario.
DOP-C02 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise DOP-C02 questions linked to DOP-C02 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free DOP-C02 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DOP-C02 question test?
Security and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use AWS Config managed rules to detect noncompliant buckets and automatically remediate by applying encryption and blocking public access. — AWS Config managed rules (e.g., s3-bucket-server-side-encryption-enabled and s3-bucket-public-read-prohibited) can automatically detect noncompliant S3 buckets. Combined with AWS Config auto-remediation using Systems Manager Automation documents, the team can enforce encryption and block public access without manual intervention, ensuring all current and future buckets remain compliant.
What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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 →
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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.