SAP-C02 Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions Practice Question
A company has an S3 bucket that stores sensitive data. The company wants to ensure that all objects uploaded to the bucket are encrypted at rest. Which solution should the solutions architect recommend?
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
✓
Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket using SSE-S3 or SSE-KMS.
Enabling default encryption on the S3 bucket using SSE-S3 or SSE-KMS ensures that all objects are automatically encrypted at rest, regardless of whether the upload request specifies encryption. This is the simplest and most effective approach. Option A is technically viable but unnecessarily complex; a bucket policy that denies uploads without the x-amz-server-side-encryption header can enforce encryption, but it requires careful policy configuration and does not encrypt objects automatically if the header is missing—instead it rejects the upload. Option B is inefficient and costly; using a Lambda function to encrypt objects after upload introduces latency and extra expense, whereas default encryption achieves the same result seamlessly. Option C is incorrect because S3 Access Points are designed for managing access to shared datasets, not for enforcing encryption; adding a policy there would complicate access management without providing the automatic encryption that default encryption offers.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use a bucket policy to deny uploads that do not include the x-amz-server-side-encryption header.
Why it's wrong here
This option fails because a bucket policy denying uploads without the `x-amz-server-side-encryption` header only enforces that clients *specify* encryption, not that S3 automatically *applies* it. If a client omits the header, the upload is denied, but the objective is to ensure *all successful uploads* are encrypted. This approach is tempting as it can prevent unencrypted uploads if default encryption is not configured, or enforce a specific encryption method. It would be appropriate for scenarios where you need to mandate that clients explicitly declare their desired server-side encryption method.
- ✗
Create an AWS Lambda function that encrypts objects after they are uploaded.
Why it's wrong here
This is inefficient and adds cost and latency. Encryption should be applied at upload time, not retroactively. Default encryption is a built-in, seamless alternative.
- ✗
Configure an S3 Access Point with a policy that requires encryption.
Why it's wrong here
This is possible but adds unnecessary complexity. An S3 Access Point with a policy can enforce encryption, but it is an additional component to manage. Default encryption achieves the same goal more directly at the bucket level.
- ✓
Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket using SSE-S3 or SSE-KMS.
Why this is correct
Correct. Default encryption on the S3 bucket automatically encrypts all objects at rest using SSE-S3 or SSE-KMS, regardless of the upload request. It is the simplest and most effective solution to ensure encryption at rest.
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 |
Go deeper
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This SAP-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 SAP-C02 exam.