- A
Use a bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject if the request does not include the x-amz-server-side-encryption header with value aws:kms
This policy condition ensures encryption is used.
- B
Enable default encryption on the bucket with AWS KMS
Why wrong: Default encryption applies only if the request does not specify encryption; it does not block unencrypted uploads.
- C
Use AWS CloudTrail to monitor PutObject calls and alert on unencrypted uploads
Why wrong: This is detective, not preventive.
- D
Enable S3 Object Lock on the bucket
Why wrong: Object Lock prevents deletion, not encryption enforcement.
Question 91 of 1,746
Blocking Unencrypted S3 Uploads
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of continuous improvement for existing solutions. 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 using Amazon S3 to store sensitive data. The security team requires that all data be encrypted at rest using server-side encryption with AWS KMS. The company also needs to ensure that any attempt to upload an unencrypted object is blocked. How can the company enforce this requirement?
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
✓
Use a bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject if the request does not include the x-amz-server-side-encryption header with value aws:kms
Option A is correct because a bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject if the request does not include the x-amz-server-side-encryption header with the value aws:kms will enforce encryption at upload time, blocking any unencrypted upload. Option B (default encryption) does not enforce on all uploads if the request header is omitted. Option C (CloudTrail) is detective, not preventive. Option D (Object Lock) is for write-once-read-many (WORM) compliance, not encryption.
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.
- ✓
Use a bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject if the request does not include the x-amz-server-side-encryption header with value aws:kms
Why this is correct
This policy condition ensures encryption is used.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable default encryption on the bucket with AWS KMS
Why it's wrong here
Default encryption applies only if the request does not specify encryption; it does not block unencrypted uploads.
- ✗
Use AWS CloudTrail to monitor PutObject calls and alert on unencrypted uploads
Why it's wrong here
This is detective, not preventive.
- ✗
Enable S3 Object Lock on the bucket
Why it's wrong here
Object Lock prevents deletion, not encryption enforcement.
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.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
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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Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — This question tests Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject if the request does not include the x-amz-server-side-encryption header with value aws:kms — Option A is correct because a bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject if the request does not include the x-amz-server-side-encryption header with the value aws:kms will enforce encryption at upload time, blocking any unencrypted upload. Option B (default encryption) does not enforce on all uploads if the request header is omitted. Option C (CloudTrail) is detective, not preventive. Option D (Object Lock) is for write-once-read-many (WORM) compliance, not encryption.
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
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 →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on SAP-C02
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company is using Amazon S3 to store sensitive data. The security team wants to ensure that all objects uploaded to specific S3 buckets are encrypted at rest. Which TWO actions should they take? (Choose 2)
medium- ✓ A.Use a bucket policy that denies PutObject without the x-amz-server-side-encryption header.
- ✓ B.Configure default encryption on the S3 buckets to use SSE-S3 or SSE-KMS.
- C.Enable S3 Cross-Region Replication.
- D.Enable S3 Versioning on the buckets.
- E.Enable S3 Server Access Logs.
Why A: Options A and B are correct. A bucket policy that denies PutObject without the x-amz-server-side-encryption header enforces encryption at upload time, ensuring all objects are encrypted. Default encryption on the bucket automatically encrypts objects that are uploaded without encryption headers, covering cases where the policy may not apply. Option C (Cross-Region Replication) replicates objects but does not enforce encryption. Option D (Versioning) provides object version management and can help protect against overwrites, but does not enforce encryption. Option E (Server Access Logs) provides logging but does not enforce encryption.
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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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