The answer is to create a CloudWatch metric filter on CloudTrail logs for StopLogging or DeleteTrail events and set an alarm. This works because CloudTrail itself logs every API call made to it, including attempts to disable it, and when these logs are streamed to CloudWatch Logs, a metric filter can detect the specific event pattern and trigger an alarm that sends an SNS notification within minutes. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding that CloudTrail is the source of truth for API activity, and that detection must happen at the log level rather than through configuration checks. A common trap is choosing AWS Config, which evaluates resource configurations but not API calls, or GuardDuty, which monitors threats but not CloudTrail disablement events. Remember the memory tip: to catch a logger disabling itself, you must watch the logger’s own output.
SCS-C02 Security Logging and Monitoring Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security logging and monitoring. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 calls. The security team wants to ensure that any attempt to disable CloudTrail logging is detected and alerted within minutes. Which solution should they implement?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a CloudWatch metric filter on CloudTrail logs for StopLogging or DeleteTrail events and set an alarm.
Option C is correct because CloudTrail itself logs the StopLogging or DeleteTrail API calls. Those logs can be streamed to CloudWatch Logs, where a metric filter can detect the event and trigger an alarm that sends an SNS notification. Option A is wrong because Config rules evaluate resource configurations, not API calls. Option B is wrong because GuardDuty does not monitor CloudTrail API calls. Option D is wrong because S3 events are for object-level operations, not CloudTrail API calls.
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.
✓
Create a CloudWatch metric filter on CloudTrail logs for StopLogging or DeleteTrail events and set an alarm.
Why this is correct
Real-time detection.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use Amazon GuardDuty to monitor for disablement events.
Why it's wrong here
GuardDuty does not monitor CloudTrail disablement.
✗
Create an AWS Config rule to detect when CloudTrail is disabled.
Why it's wrong here
Config does not monitor API calls.
✗
Configure S3 event notifications on the CloudTrail bucket.
Why it's wrong here
S3 events are for object operations.
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 SCS-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.
Security Logging and Monitoring — This question tests Security Logging and Monitoring — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a CloudWatch metric filter on CloudTrail logs for StopLogging or DeleteTrail events and set an alarm. — Option C is correct because CloudTrail itself logs the StopLogging or DeleteTrail API calls. Those logs can be streamed to CloudWatch Logs, where a metric filter can detect the event and trigger an alarm that sends an SNS notification. Option A is wrong because Config rules evaluate resource configurations, not API calls. Option B is wrong because GuardDuty does not monitor CloudTrail API calls. Option D is wrong because S3 events are for object-level operations, not CloudTrail API calls.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Identify which SCS-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.
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This SCS-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 SCS-C02 exam.
Question Discussion
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