The correct answer is to store logs in an Amazon S3 bucket with S3 Object Lock enabled and query them using Amazon Athena. This solution works because S3 Object Lock enforces a write-once-read-many (WORM) model, preventing any log file from being deleted or overwritten, which ensures tamper-proof retention for the required 7 years. Athena then allows you to query those logs directly in S3 using standard SQL, meeting the investigation need without moving data. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of combining compliance controls with serverless querying—a common scenario for long-term audit trails. A frequent trap is choosing Glacier or lifecycle policies alone, which do not prevent deletion or modification. Remember the memory tip: “Lock it, then query it”—Object Lock for immutability, Athena for SQL access.
SCS-C02 Threat Detection and Incident Response Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of threat detection and incident response. 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 uses AWS CloudTrail to log all API activity. The security team needs to retain the logs for 7 years and ensure they are tamper-proof. Additionally, the team must be able to query the logs for investigations. Which solution meets these requirements?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Store logs in an Amazon S3 bucket with S3 Object Lock enabled and query using Amazon Athena.
Option D is correct because Amazon S3 Object Lock provides a write-once-read-many (WORM) model that prevents logs from being deleted or overwritten, ensuring tamper-proof retention for 7 years. Amazon Athena allows querying the logs directly in S3 using standard SQL, meeting the investigation requirement without needing to move data.
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.
✗
Store logs in AWS CloudTrail Lake and use the built-in query feature.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail Lake is queryable but may not provide immutable storage.
✗
Store logs in Amazon CloudWatch Logs with a retention policy of 7 years.
Why it's wrong here
CloudWatch Logs is not tamper-proof and has retention limits.
✗
Store logs in an Amazon S3 bucket with standard settings and use Amazon S3 Select for querying.
Why it's wrong here
Standard S3 does not prevent tampering.
✓
Store logs in an Amazon S3 bucket with S3 Object Lock enabled and query using Amazon Athena.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose CloudTrail Lake (Option A) because it offers built-in querying, but they overlook the tamper-proof requirement, which only S3 Object Lock can guarantee for long-term retention.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
S3 Object Lock uses a retention mode (e.g., GOVERNANCE or COMPLIANCE) to enforce WORM protection; in COMPLIANCE mode, even the root user cannot delete locked objects until the retention period expires. Athena uses a Presto-based engine to query data in S3, and when combined with S3 Object Lock, it enables forensic analysis on immutable logs—critical for meeting regulatory requirements like PCI DSS or SEC Rule 17a-4.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Threat Detection and Incident Response — This question tests Threat Detection and Incident Response — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Store logs in an Amazon S3 bucket with S3 Object Lock enabled and query using Amazon Athena. — Option D is correct because Amazon S3 Object Lock provides a write-once-read-many (WORM) model that prevents logs from being deleted or overwritten, ensuring tamper-proof retention for 7 years. Amazon Athena allows querying the logs directly in S3 using standard SQL, meeting the investigation requirement without needing to move data.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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