The correct answer is to check the source IP address from the CloudTrail event details. This is because the source IP is the critical indicator of whether the IAM user 'Bob' was actually the legitimate user or if their credentials were compromised and used from an unexpected location. In a security incident investigation, the event name (ConsoleLogin, CreateUser) only tells you what happened, but the source IP reveals where the action originated, which is the key to distinguishing normal administrative behavior from malicious activity. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this concept tests your understanding of CloudTrail’s detective controls and how to correlate identity events with network origin for incident response. A common trap is focusing on group membership or timestamps, but the source IP is the immediate red flag for unauthorized access. Memory tip: when investigating a breach, always follow the IP—it’s the digital fingerprint of the attacker.
DOP-C02 Security and Compliance Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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.
Network Topology
A security engineer runs the above CLI command to investigate IAM user 'Bob'. The output shows Bob logged in and then created a new IAM user. Which additional information should the engineer look for to determine if this was a security incident?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The source IP address from the CloudTrail event details.
To determine if the activity is malicious, the engineer should check the source IP address from the CloudTrail event details. Option B is correct. Option A is wrong because the event name is already known. Option C is wrong because CloudTrail does not log the timestamp of the resource's last modification. Option D is wrong because the IAM user's group membership is not directly relevant to the login event.
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.
✗
The event name for the user creation.
Why it's wrong here
The event name is already shown as 'CreateUser'.
✗
The time the new user was last modified.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail does not provide that; it logs API calls.
✓
The source IP address from the CloudTrail event details.
Why this is correct
The source IP can help identify if the login came from an unusual location.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The IAM group memberships of the new user.
Why it's wrong here
Group memberships are not directly related to the login event.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The event name is already shown as 'CreateUser'.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
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.
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: The source IP address from the CloudTrail event details. — To determine if the activity is malicious, the engineer should check the source IP address from the CloudTrail event details. Option B is correct. Option A is wrong because the event name is already known. Option C is wrong because CloudTrail does not log the timestamp of the resource's last modification. Option D is wrong because the IAM user's group membership is not directly relevant to the login event.
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.
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Question Discussion
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