- A
Create an AWS Service Catalog portfolio that restricts bucket creation to encrypted buckets only.
Why wrong: AWS Service Catalog is not designed to enforce encryption policies across accounts at the organizational level.
- B
Use IAM policies in each account to deny PutBucketEncryption actions that do not specify the required KMS key.
Why wrong: IAM policies alone cannot enforce encryption across multiple accounts; they are scoped to a single account.
- C
Enable AWS CloudTrail and create a CloudWatch Events rule to automatically remediate non-compliant buckets.
Why wrong: AWS CloudTrail only logs API activity, it does not enforce or prevent actions.
- D
Apply an SCP to deny s3:PutBucketEncryption with any key other than the required KMS key, and use AWS Config rules to detect and remediate existing non-compliant buckets.
SCPs can deny actions organization-wide, and AWS Config rules can detect and remediate non-compliant buckets.
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 multinational corporation uses AWS Organizations with hundreds of accounts. The security team requires that all Amazon S3 buckets across the organization be encrypted with a specific AWS KMS key from the security account. Which combination of controls should be implemented to 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
Apply an SCP to deny s3:PutBucketEncryption with any key other than the required KMS key, and use AWS Config rules to detect and remediate existing non-compliant buckets.
Option D is correct because SCPs can deny the creation of S3 buckets without encryption or with the wrong KMS key, and AWS Config rules can detect non-compliant existing buckets for remediation. Option A is wrong because AWS Service Catalog is not designed for this purpose. Option B is wrong because IAM policies alone cannot enforce encryption at the organizational level across multiple accounts. Option C is wrong because AWS CloudTrail only logs, not enforces.
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.
- ✗
Create an AWS Service Catalog portfolio that restricts bucket creation to encrypted buckets only.
Why it's wrong here
AWS Service Catalog is not designed to enforce encryption policies across accounts at the organizational level.
- ✗
Use IAM policies in each account to deny PutBucketEncryption actions that do not specify the required KMS key.
Why it's wrong here
IAM policies alone cannot enforce encryption across multiple accounts; they are scoped to a single account.
- ✗
Enable AWS CloudTrail and create a CloudWatch Events rule to automatically remediate non-compliant buckets.
Why it's wrong here
AWS CloudTrail only logs API activity, it does not enforce or prevent actions.
- ✓
Apply an SCP to deny s3:PutBucketEncryption with any key other than the required KMS key, and use AWS Config rules to detect and remediate existing non-compliant buckets.
Why this is correct
SCPs can deny actions organization-wide, and AWS Config rules can detect and remediate non-compliant buckets.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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.
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.
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.
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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 — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Apply an SCP to deny s3:PutBucketEncryption with any key other than the required KMS key, and use AWS Config rules to detect and remediate existing non-compliant buckets. — Option D is correct because SCPs can deny the creation of S3 buckets without encryption or with the wrong KMS key, and AWS Config rules can detect non-compliant existing buckets for remediation. Option A is wrong because AWS Service Catalog is not designed for this purpose. Option B is wrong because IAM policies alone cannot enforce encryption at the organizational level across multiple accounts. Option C is wrong because AWS CloudTrail only logs, not enforces.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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