The correct answer is to configure S3 bucket encryption with SSE-KMS using a customer-managed CMK and enable AWS CloudTrail with data events for both S3 and KMS. This combination satisfies the requirements because SSE-KMS with a customer-managed key gives you full control over encryption keys and rotation, while CloudTrail’s data events capture every S3 object-level API call and every KMS Decrypt operation, providing a complete audit trail for data lake access. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the distinction between encryption options and audit mechanisms—a common trap is choosing S3 server access logs, which do not log KMS key usage, or SSE-S3, which lacks customer-managed key control. Remember that for a compliant data lake encryption audit, you need both the key control layer (KMS) and the API audit layer (CloudTrail). Memory tip: “Keys and calls—KMS and CloudTrail for the full audit trail.”
SAP-C02 Design for New Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design for new solutions. 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.
A company is designing a data lake on Amazon S3. The data is ingested from multiple sources and must be encrypted at rest using customer-managed keys. The company also needs to audit all access to the data lake. Which combination of services should be used?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure S3 bucket encryption with SSE-KMS using a customer-managed CMK. Enable AWS CloudTrail with data events for S3 and KMS.
AWS KMS with customer-managed CMKs provides encryption control. AWS CloudTrail logs all API calls including KMS decrypt operations. Option A (SSE-S3) does not use customer keys. Option C (CloudWatch) does not audit access. Option D (S3 server access logs) does not capture KMS usage.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Enable S3 bucket encryption with SSE-S3. Enable S3 server access logs.
Why it's wrong here
SSE-S3 not customer-managed; server access logs do not capture KMS operations.
✓
Configure S3 bucket encryption with SSE-KMS using a customer-managed CMK. Enable AWS CloudTrail with data events for S3 and KMS.
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Enable S3 default encryption with SSE-S3. Enable Amazon CloudWatch Logs for S3 access logging.
Why it's wrong here
SSE-S3 uses AWS-managed keys, not customer-managed.
✗
Use client-side encryption with a customer-managed key. Enable Amazon CloudWatch Logs for S3 access logs.
Why it's wrong here
Client-side encryption is not server-side; CloudWatch logs are not for auditing.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SAP-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Design for New Solutions — This question tests Design for New Solutions — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure S3 bucket encryption with SSE-KMS using a customer-managed CMK. Enable AWS CloudTrail with data events for S3 and KMS. — AWS KMS with customer-managed CMKs provides encryption control. AWS CloudTrail logs all API calls including KMS decrypt operations. Option A (SSE-S3) does not use customer keys. Option C (CloudWatch) does not audit access. Option D (S3 server access logs) does not capture KMS usage.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SAP-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Question Discussion
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