Quick Answer
The correct actions are to enable S3 Block Public Access and enable default encryption, as these directly address the two core security requirements for confidential data: preventing unintended public exposure and ensuring data is encrypted at rest. S3 Block Public Access acts as a centralized safety net that overrides any bucket policies or object ACLs that might accidentally grant public access, while default encryption automatically applies server-side encryption (SSE-S3 or AWS KMS) to all new objects, eliminating the risk of storing unencrypted data. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish security controls from operational features like versioning or replication, which serve recovery and disaster recovery purposes respectively. A common trap is confusing versioning with security—remember that versioning protects against accidental deletion, not unauthorized access. For a quick memory tip, think of the phrase “Lock and Lock”: Block Public Access locks the door, and default encryption locks the data inside.
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.
Which TWO actions can be taken to secure an Amazon S3 bucket that contains confidential data? (Choose TWO.)
Enable S3 Default Encryption.
Encrypts data at rest.
Enable S3 Transfer Acceleration.
Why wrong: Speeds up transfers, not security.
Enable S3 Cross-Region Replication.
Why wrong: For disaster recovery, not security.
Enable S3 Versioning.
Why wrong: Helps with data recovery, not security.
Enable S3 Block Public Access.
Prevents public access to the bucket.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Enable S3 Default Encryption.
Correct options: A and D. Option A: Block public access prevents public exposure. Option D: Enable default encryption ensures data is encrypted at rest. Option B is wrong because versioning helps with recovery, not security. Option C is wrong because cross-region replication is for disaster recovery. Option E is wrong because S3 Transfer Acceleration is for speed, not security.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Enable S3 Default Encryption.
Why this is correct
Encrypts data at rest.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Enable S3 Transfer Acceleration.
Why it's wrong here
Speeds up transfers, not security.
Enable S3 Cross-Region Replication.
Why it's wrong here
For disaster recovery, not security.
Enable S3 Versioning.
Why it's wrong here
Helps with data recovery, not security.
Enable S3 Block Public Access.
Why this is correct
Prevents public access to the bucket.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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
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FAQ
Security and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Enable S3 Default Encryption. — Correct options: A and D. Option A: Block public access prevents public exposure. Option D: Enable default encryption ensures data is encrypted at rest. Option B is wrong because versioning helps with recovery, not security. Option C is wrong because cross-region replication is for disaster recovery. Option E is wrong because S3 Transfer Acceleration is for speed, not security.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 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.
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