Using CloudTrail and CloudWatch Logs to Log All API Calls for SAP
A company runs SAP on AWS and needs to ensure that all API calls made to AWS services are logged for auditing purposes. Which TWO services should be used together to achieve this?
Quick Answer
The answer is AWS CloudTrail and Amazon CloudWatch Logs used together. CloudTrail is the correct service because it records every API call made to AWS services, capturing who made the call, when, and from which source, which is essential for auditing all AWS API activity in an SAP environment. CloudWatch Logs then stores, monitors, and analyzes these log streams, allowing you to set up alarms or search for specific API events. On the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, this pairing tests your understanding of audit logging requirements for regulated SAP workloads, often appearing in questions that distinguish CloudTrail from AWS Config (which tracks resource configuration changes, not API calls) or VPC Flow Logs (which capture network traffic, not API activity). A common trap is selecting Amazon S3 for storage alone, but the question explicitly asks for two services that work together to log and analyze API calls, making CloudWatch Logs the necessary companion. Memory tip: think of CloudTrail as the camera recording every API action, and CloudWatch Logs as the security guard reviewing the footage.
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates might think AWS Config or VPC Flow Logs are suitable for API call logging, but they serve different purposes (config changes and network traffic, respectively).
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
✓
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
AWS CloudTrail logs all API calls made to AWS services, providing an audit trail. Amazon CloudWatch Logs can then be used to store, monitor, and analyze these logs. Together, they satisfy the auditing requirement. Option A (Amazon S3) can store logs but does not log API calls itself. Option B (VPC Flow Logs) captures network traffic, not API calls. Option D (AWS Config) records resource configuration changes, not API calls. Therefore, the correct combination is CloudTrail and CloudWatch Logs.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Amazon S3
Why it's wrong here
Amazon S3 can store logs but does not log API calls. It is a storage service, not a logging service.
- ✗
VPC Flow Logs
Why it's wrong here
VPC Flow Logs capture IP traffic information for network interfaces, not API calls.
- ✓
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
Why this is correct
Amazon CloudWatch Logs can receive and store log data from AWS CloudTrail, enabling monitoring and analysis.
- ✗
AWS Config
Why it's wrong here
AWS Config records resource configuration changes and evaluates compliance, but does not log API calls.
- ✓
AWS CloudTrail
Why this is correct
AWS CloudTrail records API calls made to AWS services, providing the audit trail required.
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 |
Go deeper
Related to this question
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on PAS-C01
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 runs SAP on AWS and wants to ensure that all API calls to create, modify, or delete EC2 instances are logged for auditing. Which TWO AWS services can be used together to achieve this? (Choose two.)
easy- ✓ A.AWS CloudTrail
- B.Amazon S3 server access logs
- C.AWS Config
- ✓ D.Amazon CloudWatch Logs
- E.Amazon VPC Flow Logs
Why A: AWS CloudTrail logs API calls to create, modify, or delete EC2 instances. Amazon CloudWatch Logs can store and analyze the CloudTrail logs for auditing. Option B (Amazon S3 server access logs) logs access to S3 buckets, not EC2 API calls. Option C (AWS Config) tracks configuration changes but does not log all API calls. Option E (Amazon VPC Flow Logs) captures network traffic, not API calls.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This PAS-C01 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 PAS-C01 exam.