- A
AWS Config
Why wrong: AWS Config records resource configuration changes, not API calls. It does not provide a tamper-proof audit trail of API calls.
- B
AWS CloudTrail
AWS CloudTrail records all API calls made in the account and can deliver logs to S3, providing an audit trail. It is the primary service for API call logging.
- C
Amazon S3 with Object Lock enabled
Amazon S3 with Object Lock enabled stores CloudTrail logs in a Write-Once-Read-Many (WORM) mode, preventing any modification or deletion, ensuring tamper-proof storage.
- D
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
Why wrong: Amazon CloudWatch Logs is for application and system logs, not API call logs. It does not inherently provide tamper-proof storage.
- E
AWS KMS
Why wrong: AWS KMS manages encryption keys and can encrypt logs, but it does not prevent log tampering. Object Lock on S3 is required for tamper-proof storage.
Auditing AWS API Calls with CloudTrail and Immutable Storage
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. 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 DevOps engineer is tasked with auditing all AWS API calls made in the account for compliance purposes. The engineer needs to ensure that the audit logs are tamper-proof and stored cost-effectively. Which TWO services should the engineer use?
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
AWS CloudTrail
AWS CloudTrail (Option B) is the service that records all API calls made in an AWS account, providing an audit trail. To ensure these logs are tamper-proof and stored cost-effectively, Amazon S3 with Object Lock enabled (Option C) is used. Object Lock prevents logs from being deleted or overwritten, meeting compliance requirements. Option A (AWS Config) records resource configuration changes, not API calls. Option D (Amazon CloudWatch Logs) is for application and system logs, not AWS API call logs. Option E (AWS KMS) manages encryption keys but does not provide tamper-proof storage for 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.
- ✗
AWS Config
Why it's wrong here
AWS Config records resource configuration changes, not API calls. It does not provide a tamper-proof audit trail of API calls.
- ✓
AWS CloudTrail
Why this is correct
AWS CloudTrail records all API calls made in the account and can deliver logs to S3, providing an audit trail. It is the primary service for API call logging.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Amazon S3 with Object Lock enabled
Why this is correct
Amazon S3 with Object Lock enabled stores CloudTrail logs in a Write-Once-Read-Many (WORM) mode, preventing any modification or deletion, ensuring tamper-proof storage.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
Why it's wrong here
Amazon CloudWatch Logs is for application and system logs, not API call logs. It does not inherently provide tamper-proof storage.
- ✗
AWS KMS
Why it's wrong here
AWS KMS manages encryption keys and can encrypt logs, but it does not prevent log tampering. Object Lock on S3 is required for tamper-proof storage.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
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 — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Security and Compliance practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
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AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 study guide
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DOP-C02 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
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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: AWS CloudTrail — AWS CloudTrail (Option B) is the service that records all API calls made in an AWS account, providing an audit trail. To ensure these logs are tamper-proof and stored cost-effectively, Amazon S3 with Object Lock enabled (Option C) is used. Object Lock prevents logs from being deleted or overwritten, meeting compliance requirements. Option A (AWS Config) records resource configuration changes, not API calls. Option D (Amazon CloudWatch Logs) is for application and system logs, not AWS API call logs. Option E (AWS KMS) manages encryption keys but does not provide tamper-proof storage for logs.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
3 more ways this is tested on DOP-C02
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. An organization needs to audit all AWS API calls made in their account for compliance purposes. Which AWS service should they enable?
easy- A.Amazon CloudWatch Logs
- B.AWS Config
- ✓ C.AWS CloudTrail
- D.Amazon GuardDuty
Why C: Option C is correct because AWS CloudTrail records API activity for auditing and compliance. Option A (Amazon CloudWatch Logs) is incorrect as it is a log management service but does not record API calls. Option B (AWS Config) is incorrect because it tracks resource configuration changes, not API calls. Option D (Amazon GuardDuty) is incorrect because it is a threat detection service, not a comprehensive API audit trail.
Variation 2. A company wants to ensure that all API calls made within its AWS account are logged for auditing purposes. Which AWS service should be enabled to meet this requirement?
easy- A.AWS Config
- ✓ B.AWS CloudTrail
- C.Amazon CloudWatch Logs
- D.VPC Flow Logs
Why B: AWS CloudTrail is the service that records API activity in an AWS account, making it the correct choice. Option A is incorrect because AWS Config tracks resource configuration changes, not API calls. Option C is incorrect because CloudWatch Logs is for log storage and monitoring, not for recording API calls. Option D is incorrect because VPC Flow Logs capture network traffic, not API calls.
Variation 3. A DevOps engineer must ensure that all API calls in an AWS account are logged for compliance. The logs should be stored in an S3 bucket with server-side encryption enabled. Which two services should be used together to meet these requirements?
easy- A.AWS CloudTrail and Amazon CloudWatch Logs
- ✓ B.AWS CloudTrail and Amazon S3
- C.Amazon VPC Flow Logs and Amazon S3
- D.AWS Config and AWS CloudTrail
Why B: Option B is correct because AWS CloudTrail logs all API calls in the account and can deliver these logs to an S3 bucket, where server-side encryption (SSE) can be enabled for compliance. Option A (AWS CloudTrail and Amazon CloudWatch Logs) can capture API calls, but the requirement is to store logs in an S3 bucket with encryption, not CloudWatch Logs. Option C (Amazon VPC Flow Logs and Amazon S3) captures network traffic, not API calls. Option D (AWS Config and AWS CloudTrail) includes AWS Config, which tracks resource configuration changes, not API calls; CloudTrail alone suffices for API logging, but Config is not needed for this requirement.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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