Quick Answer
The answer is AWS Config and AWS CloudFormation StackSets. AWS Config continuously evaluates your S3 buckets against a custom rule that checks for encryption settings, identifying any non-compliant buckets without disrupting those already compliant. CloudFormation StackSets then automates the deployment of an S3 bucket policy—across multiple accounts and Regions—that denies any PutObject request lacking the required encryption header, effectively enforcing encryption at rest on existing buckets. On the SAP-C02 exam, this pairing tests your understanding of combining detective controls (Config) with automated remediation (StackSets) at scale, a common scenario for organization-wide compliance. A frequent trap is choosing Service Control Policies (SCPs), which cannot retroactively enforce encryption on existing objects or bucket configurations. Remember the memory tip: “Config catches, StackSets patches.”
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design solutions for organizational complexity. 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 AWS Organizations with multiple accounts. The security team wants to enforce encryption at rest for all Amazon S3 buckets across the organization. The solution must be automated and should not prevent existing compliant buckets from being used. Which TWO services should be combined to achieve this?
AWS Lambda
Why wrong: Lambda alone cannot manage multi-account deployments.
AWS Config
Config can evaluate bucket encryption compliance.
AWS Trusted Advisor
Why wrong: Trusted Advisor provides recommendations only.
Service control policy (SCP)
Why wrong: SCPs cannot enforce encryption on existing buckets.
AWS CloudFormation StackSets
StackSets can deploy bucket policies across accounts.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
AWS Config
Options A and C are correct because AWS Config can detect non-compliant buckets, and AWS CloudFormation StackSets can deploy a bucket policy to enforce encryption. Option B is wrong because SCPs cannot enforce encryption settings on existing buckets. Option D is wrong because AWS Trusted Advisor only provides recommendations, not enforcement. Option E is wrong because AWS Lambda alone cannot deploy policies across accounts without additional orchestration.
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.
AWS Lambda
Why it's wrong here
Lambda alone cannot manage multi-account deployments.
AWS Config
Why this is correct
Config can evaluate bucket encryption compliance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AWS Trusted Advisor
Why it's wrong here
Trusted Advisor provides recommendations only.
Service control policy (SCP)
Why it's wrong here
SCPs cannot enforce encryption on existing buckets.
AWS CloudFormation StackSets
Why this is correct
StackSets can deploy bucket policies across accounts.
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 SAP-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.
Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All SAP-C02 questions
1,746 questions across all exam domains
AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
SAP-C02 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to Design for New Solutions.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 VPC.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 S3 lifecycle policy questions.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 RDS Multi-AZ questions.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 IAM policy.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 Route 53 failover questions.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 CloudFront.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 NAT gateway questions.
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 VPC endpoint questions.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — This question tests Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: AWS Config — Options A and C are correct because AWS Config can detect non-compliant buckets, and AWS CloudFormation StackSets can deploy a bucket policy to enforce encryption. Option B is wrong because SCPs cannot enforce encryption settings on existing buckets. Option D is wrong because AWS Trusted Advisor only provides recommendations, not enforcement. Option E is wrong because AWS Lambda alone cannot deploy policies across accounts without additional orchestration.
Identify which SAP-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
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.