SAP-C02 Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions Practice Question
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of continuous improvement for existing solutions. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 Amazon S3 to store sensitive data. The security team wants to ensure that all objects are encrypted at rest. The company currently uses server-side encryption with S3 managed keys (SSE-S3). The team wants to enforce encryption using a customer-managed key (CMK) from AWS KMS. Which TWO actions should the team take?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure a bucket policy that denies PutObject if the x-amz-server-side-encryption header is not set to 'aws:kms'.
Option A and Option C are correct. Option A (S3 Bucket Policy denying PutObject without the correct encryption header) enforces encryption at upload time. Option C (Default encryption with SSE-KMS) ensures that objects uploaded without encryption headers are encrypted with KMS. Option B (Bucket policy allowing any encryption) does not enforce KMS. Option D (Disable SSE-S3) is not possible; you cannot disable SSE-S3, you can only set default encryption. Option E (CloudTrail logging) does not enforce encryption.
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.
✓
Configure a bucket policy that denies PutObject if the x-amz-server-side-encryption header is not set to 'aws:kms'.
Why this is correct
This policy blocks uploads that do not use SSE-KMS.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
Enable AWS CloudTrail to audit all PutObject requests.
Why it's wrong here
Auditing does not enforce encryption.
✓
Enable default encryption on the bucket with AWS KMS (SSE-KMS) as the encryption type.
Why this is correct
Default encryption ensures objects are encrypted with KMS if no encryption header is specified.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
Configure a bucket policy that allows PutObject only if the object is encrypted.
Why it's wrong here
Allows SSE-S3 as well, not exclusively KMS.
✗
Disable SSE-S3 on the bucket so that only SSE-KMS can be used.
Why it's wrong here
SSE-S3 cannot be disabled; it is a server-side option.
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 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 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.
Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — This question tests Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure a bucket policy that denies PutObject if the x-amz-server-side-encryption header is not set to 'aws:kms'. — Option A and Option C are correct. Option A (S3 Bucket Policy denying PutObject without the correct encryption header) enforces encryption at upload time. Option C (Default encryption with SSE-KMS) ensures that objects uploaded without encryption headers are encrypted with KMS. Option B (Bucket policy allowing any encryption) does not enforce KMS. Option D (Disable SSE-S3) is not possible; you cannot disable SSE-S3, you can only set default encryption. Option E (CloudTrail logging) does not enforce encryption.
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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