This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of data protection. 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 KMS to encrypt secrets stored in AWS Secrets Manager. The security team wants to audit all KMS key usage, including attempts to use the key without proper authorization. Which AWS service should the team use to meet this requirement?
Amazon GuardDuty
Why wrong: GuardDuty detects threats but does not provide a full audit trail of KMS usage.
AWS Config
Why wrong: Config tracks resource configuration changes, not API calls.
AWS CloudTrail
CloudTrail records all KMS API operations for auditing.
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
Why wrong: CloudWatch Logs can store logs but does not capture KMS API calls by itself.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
AWS CloudTrail
Option B is correct because AWS CloudTrail logs all KMS API calls, including Decrypt, Encrypt, GenerateDataKey, and any authorization failures. Option A is wrong because CloudWatch Logs is for monitoring log data, not for capturing API calls. Option C is wrong because Amazon GuardDuty is a threat detection service that does not log KMS API calls. Option D is wrong because AWS Config tracks resource configuration changes, not API calls.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Amazon GuardDuty
Why it's wrong here
GuardDuty detects threats but does not provide a full audit trail of KMS usage.
AWS Config
Why it's wrong here
Config tracks resource configuration changes, not API calls.
AWS CloudTrail
Why this is correct
CloudTrail records all KMS API operations for auditing.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
Why it's wrong here
CloudWatch Logs can store logs but does not capture KMS API calls by itself.
Common exam traps
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Real-world example
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SCS-C02 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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FAQ
Data Protection — This question tests Data Protection — Authentication checks who the user is..
The correct answer is: AWS CloudTrail — Option B is correct because AWS CloudTrail logs all KMS API calls, including Decrypt, Encrypt, GenerateDataKey, and any authorization failures. Option A is wrong because CloudWatch Logs is for monitoring log data, not for capturing API calls. Option C is wrong because Amazon GuardDuty is a threat detection service that does not log KMS API calls. Option D is wrong because AWS Config tracks resource configuration changes, not API calls.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SCS-C02 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Authentication checks who the user is.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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.
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