- A
Configure S3 bucket policies in each account to enforce encryption using the KMS key.
Why wrong: Bucket policies are per-account and cannot enforce the use of a specific external KMS key effectively.
- B
Configure S3 buckets in each account to use the shared KMS key for server-side encryption.
Buckets must be configured to use the shared key for encryption.
- C
Create a customer managed KMS key in the security account and share it with the other accounts using AWS Resource Access Manager (RAM).
RAM allows sharing KMS keys across accounts.
- D
Create IAM users in the security account and grant them access to the KMS key.
Why wrong: IAM users are not needed; RAM handles cross-account access.
- E
Apply a service control policy (SCP) that denies s3:PutObject unless the request uses the required KMS key.
SCPs can enforce encryption requirements centrally.
Quick Answer
The answer is to create a centralized KMS key in the security account, share it via RAM, and enforce its use with a service control policy (SCP). This works because a centralized KMS key cross-account S3 data lake SCP strategy ensures that all data written to the data lake is encrypted under a single key managed by the security team, while the SCP denies any s3:PutObject that does not specify that key, preventing non-compliant writes across all accounts. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to combine AWS Organizations, KMS, and RAM for multi-account governance, with a common trap being to rely on S3 bucket policies—which are account-scoped and cannot enforce cross-account encryption requirements. Remember the key distinction: SCPs are global guardrails for all principals in an account, while bucket policies are local. Memory tip: “SCP to stop, RAM to share, KMS to lock the data lake.”
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 wants to implement a data lake strategy using Amazon S3 across multiple AWS accounts. They need to ensure that data is encrypted at rest using a centralized AWS KMS key from a security account. Which THREE steps should they take?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Configure S3 buckets in each account to use the shared KMS key for server-side encryption.
Options A, C, and D are correct. Create a KMS key in the security account and share it via RAM. In each account, use the shared KMS key when creating S3 buckets. Apply an SCP to enforce the use of the shared KMS key. Option B is wrong because S3 bucket policies are account-specific and cannot enforce across accounts. Option E is wrong because IAM users are not the best mechanism for cross-account access; RAM is simpler.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 S3 bucket policies in each account to enforce encryption using the KMS key.
Why it's wrong here
Bucket policies are per-account and cannot enforce the use of a specific external KMS key effectively.
- ✓
Configure S3 buckets in each account to use the shared KMS key for server-side encryption.
Why this is correct
Buckets must be configured to use the shared key for encryption.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Create a customer managed KMS key in the security account and share it with the other accounts using AWS Resource Access Manager (RAM).
Why this is correct
RAM allows sharing KMS keys across accounts.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create IAM users in the security account and grant them access to the KMS key.
Why it's wrong here
IAM users are not needed; RAM handles cross-account access.
- ✓
Apply a service control policy (SCP) that denies s3:PutObject unless the request uses the required KMS key.
Why this is correct
SCPs can enforce encryption requirements centrally.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
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
How to think about this question
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.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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.
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.
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Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — This question tests Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure S3 buckets in each account to use the shared KMS key for server-side encryption. — Options A, C, and D are correct. Create a KMS key in the security account and share it via RAM. In each account, use the shared KMS key when creating S3 buckets. Apply an SCP to enforce the use of the shared KMS key. Option B is wrong because S3 bucket policies are account-specific and cannot enforce across accounts. Option E is wrong because IAM users are not the best mechanism for cross-account access; RAM is simpler.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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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.
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