The answer is to use Service Control Policies (SCPs) to deny CloudTrail:StopLogging and CloudTrail:DeleteTrail actions, and AWS Config rules with auto-remediation to re-enable CloudTrail if disabled. SCPs provide a preventive guardrail at the AWS Organizations root level, ensuring no principal—including the root user—can disable the trail across any account, while Config rules offer a detective and corrective layer that automatically restores logging if a violation occurs. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this pairing tests your understanding of defense-in-depth for security controls, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly choose IAM permissions boundaries (which do not restrict the root user) or Trusted Advisor (which only advises). To prevent disabling CloudTrail across accounts, remember the mnemonic “SCP stops, Config corrects”—one blocks the action, the other fixes the aftermath.
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design solutions for organizational complexity. 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 multi-account strategy using AWS Organizations. They want to enforce that no one can disable AWS CloudTrail in any account. Which TWO methods can achieve this?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Attach a Service Control Policy (SCP) that denies disabling or deleting CloudTrail.
Option A is correct because SCPs can deny CloudTrail:StopLogging and CloudTrail:DeleteTrail actions. Option D is correct because AWS Config rules can detect and remediate disabled trails. Option B is wrong because IAM permissions boundaries do not prevent root user actions. Option C is wrong because Trusted Advisor does not enforce. Option E is wrong because AWS Shield is for DDoS protection.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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 AWS Trusted Advisor to alert when CloudTrail is disabled.
Why it's wrong here
Alerts do not prevent disabling.
✓
Attach a Service Control Policy (SCP) that denies disabling or deleting CloudTrail.
Why this is correct
SCPs can prevent disabling actions at the organizational level.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
Use AWS Shield Advanced to protect CloudTrail.
Why it's wrong here
Shield is for DDoS protection.
✓
Use AWS Config rules with auto-remediation to re-enable CloudTrail if disabled.
Why this is correct
Config can detect and automatically re-enable.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
Use IAM permissions boundaries to restrict user permissions.
Why it's wrong here
Permissions boundaries do not apply to the root user.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
The first matching ACL entry is used.
There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
→Check inbound versus outbound direction.
→Read the ACL from top to bottom.
→Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SAP-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — This question tests Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Attach a Service Control Policy (SCP) that denies disabling or deleting CloudTrail. — Option A is correct because SCPs can deny CloudTrail:StopLogging and CloudTrail:DeleteTrail actions. Option D is correct because AWS Config rules can detect and remediate disabled trails. Option B is wrong because IAM permissions boundaries do not prevent root user actions. Option C is wrong because Trusted Advisor does not enforce. Option E is wrong because AWS Shield is for DDoS protection.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SAP-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Question Discussion
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