The correct answer is to configure the S3 bucket policy to allow the member accounts to write objects and to create a subscription filter policy in each account to forward logs to the central bucket. This works because CloudWatch Logs uses subscription filters to stream log data in real time, and cross-account delivery requires the destination S3 bucket’s resource-based policy to explicitly grant the `s3:PutObject` permission to the member accounts’ log delivery service. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of centralized logging with AWS Organizations, where a common trap is confusing service control policies (SCPs) with actual data delivery mechanisms—SCPs only restrict permissions, they don’t send logs. Another pitfall is assuming CloudWatch Logs can natively write to S3 without a subscription filter. Remember the mnemonic: “Filter first, then bucket trust” — you must set up the subscription filter in each account and then open the bucket policy for cross-account writes.
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity
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 uses AWS Organizations to manage multiple accounts. The security team wants to centrally manage CloudWatch Logs from all accounts. The logs should be sent to a central S3 bucket in the management account. Which two actions should the team take? (Choose two.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a subscription filter in each member account's log groups that sends logs to the central S3 bucket.
Options A and C are correct. The management account must create a subscription filter policy in each account (or use cross-account subscription), and the S3 bucket policy must allow cross-account writes. Option B is wrong because SCPs cannot create log delivery. Option D is wrong because IAM roles in member accounts are needed for the subscription, not for the bucket. Option E is wrong because CloudWatch Logs does not natively send to S3 without subscription filters.
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.
✓
Create a subscription filter in each member account's log groups that sends logs to the central S3 bucket.
Why this is correct
Subscription filters deliver logs to destinations like S3.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✓
Configure the S3 bucket policy to allow the member accounts to write objects.
Why this is correct
Allows cross-account log delivery.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Create an IAM role in the management account that can read logs from member accounts.
Why it's wrong here
Not needed; subscription filter writes directly.
✗
Apply an SCP that requires all log groups to export logs to the central bucket.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs cannot configure log exports.
✗
Use AWS CloudTrail to deliver logs to the central bucket.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail logs are different from CloudWatch Logs.
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 Solutions for Organizational Complexity — This question tests Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a subscription filter in each member account's log groups that sends logs to the central S3 bucket. — Options A and C are correct. The management account must create a subscription filter policy in each account (or use cross-account subscription), and the S3 bucket policy must allow cross-account writes. Option B is wrong because SCPs cannot create log delivery. Option D is wrong because IAM roles in member accounts are needed for the subscription, not for the bucket. Option E is wrong because CloudWatch Logs does not natively send to S3 without subscription filters.
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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