- A
Amazon CloudWatch Logs with a metric filter and alarm.
Why wrong: Metric filters on CloudWatch Logs require logs to be sent to CloudWatch Logs first, adding latency; EventBridge is more direct.
- B
AWS Config with an AWS Lambda function.
Why wrong: AWS Config evaluates resource configurations; it is not designed for real-time API call notifications.
- C
Amazon CloudWatch Events (Amazon EventBridge) with an AWS Lambda function that sends an email via Amazon SES.
Why wrong: Though possible, using Lambda is unnecessary complexity when SNS can directly send email.
- D
Amazon CloudWatch Events (Amazon EventBridge) with an Amazon SNS topic.
EventBridge can match CloudTrail events and trigger SNS for immediate notification.
Question 251 of 1,750
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 is using AWS CloudTrail to track API calls. They want to be notified immediately when an IAM user creates a new access key. Which combination of AWS services should be used?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"immediately / without restart"Why it matters: Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
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
✓
Amazon CloudWatch Events (Amazon EventBridge) with an Amazon SNS topic.
To be notified immediately when an IAM user creates a new access key, the most efficient approach is to use Amazon CloudWatch Events (Amazon EventBridge) with an Amazon SNS topic. CloudTrail records the 'CreateAccessKey' API call as an event. An EventBridge rule can be configured to match this specific event pattern and send the event to an SNS topic, which can then send notifications via email, SMS, etc. This provides real-time notification without additional services. Option A (CloudWatch Logs with metric filter and alarm) requires sending CloudTrail logs to CloudWatch Logs, which adds latency and complexity; it is not as direct as EventBridge. Option B (AWS Config with Lambda) is not designed for real-time event notification. Option C (EventBridge with Lambda and SES) adds unnecessary Lambda processing since SNS can directly send email when subscribed to the topic.
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.
- ✗
Amazon CloudWatch Logs with a metric filter and alarm.
Why it's wrong here
Metric filters on CloudWatch Logs require logs to be sent to CloudWatch Logs first, adding latency; EventBridge is more direct.
- ✗
AWS Config with an AWS Lambda function.
Why it's wrong here
AWS Config evaluates resource configurations; it is not designed for real-time API call notifications.
- ✗
Amazon CloudWatch Events (Amazon EventBridge) with an AWS Lambda function that sends an email via Amazon SES.
Why it's wrong here
Though possible, using Lambda is unnecessary complexity when SNS can directly send email.
- ✓
Amazon CloudWatch Events (Amazon EventBridge) with an Amazon SNS topic.
Why this is correct
EventBridge can match CloudTrail events and trigger SNS for immediate notification.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "immediately / without restart" in the question point toward this answer.
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 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.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DOP-C02 question test?
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: Amazon CloudWatch Events (Amazon EventBridge) with an Amazon SNS topic. — To be notified immediately when an IAM user creates a new access key, the most efficient approach is to use Amazon CloudWatch Events (Amazon EventBridge) with an Amazon SNS topic. CloudTrail records the 'CreateAccessKey' API call as an event. An EventBridge rule can be configured to match this specific event pattern and send the event to an SNS topic, which can then send notifications via email, SMS, etc. This provides real-time notification without additional services. Option A (CloudWatch Logs with metric filter and alarm) requires sending CloudTrail logs to CloudWatch Logs, which adds latency and complexity; it is not as direct as EventBridge. Option B (AWS Config with Lambda) is not designed for real-time event notification. Option C (EventBridge with Lambda and SES) adds unnecessary Lambda processing since SNS can directly send email when subscribed to the topic.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "immediately / without restart". Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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