The correct answer is to create an Amazon EventBridge rule that matches the CreateAccessKey event and triggers an Amazon SNS notification. This solution works because EventBridge natively ingests AWS CloudTrail management events and can filter for specific API calls like CreateAccessKey without requiring any custom code or additional logging infrastructure. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of the least-operational-overhead approach to alerting on IAM user creating access key, with a common trap being the assumption that you must first send CloudTrail logs to CloudWatch Logs and then create a metric filter and alarm—while that works, it introduces unnecessary complexity when EventBridge can match the event directly. Remember the memory tip: EventBridge is the “direct line” for CloudTrail events, while CloudWatch Logs is the “detour.”
SCS-C02 Security Logging and Monitoring Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security logging and monitoring. 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 management events. The security team wants to be alerted when an IAM user creates a new access key. Which solution would meet this requirement with the least operational overhead?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "least"
Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create an Amazon EventBridge rule that matches the CreateAccessKey event and triggers an Amazon SNS notification.
Option A is correct because CloudTrail events can be sent to CloudWatch Logs, and a metric filter with an alarm can detect the CreateAccessKey event. Option B is wrong because it requires custom code and is more overhead. Option C is wrong because EventBridge rules can directly match CloudTrail events without CloudWatch Logs. Option D is wrong because Lambda is more overhead than a simple alarm.
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 Logs metric filter on the CloudTrail log group for CreateAccessKey events and set an alarm.
Why it's wrong here
This works but has higher overhead than EventBridge.
✓
Create an Amazon EventBridge rule that matches the CreateAccessKey event and triggers an Amazon SNS notification.
Why this is correct
EventBridge provides near-real-time event matching with minimal overhead.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Write a Python script that uses the CloudTrail LookupEvents API and run it on a scheduled basis using Amazon EventBridge Scheduler.
Why it's wrong here
Scripted polling is more complex and less efficient.
✗
Develop a custom AWS Lambda function that queries CloudTrail logs in S3 every hour.
Why it's wrong here
Periodic polling is inefficient and not near-real-time.
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 an Amazon EventBridge rule that matches the CreateAccessKey event and triggers an Amazon SNS notification. — Option A is correct because CloudTrail events can be sent to CloudWatch Logs, and a metric filter with an alarm can detect the CreateAccessKey event. Option B is wrong because it requires custom code and is more overhead. Option C is wrong because EventBridge rules can directly match CloudTrail events without CloudWatch Logs. Option D is wrong because Lambda is more overhead than a simple alarm.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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