- A
Enable S3 Object Lock on the bucket with governance mode.
Why wrong: Governance mode allows users with special permissions to delete, but it does not restrict to management account only.
- B
Use an S3 bucket policy that denies s3:DeleteObject for all principals.
Why wrong: This would prevent anyone from deleting, including the management account.
- C
Enable MFA Delete on the S3 bucket.
Why wrong: MFA Delete requires multi-factor authentication but does not restrict to management account only.
- D
Configure CloudTrail to automatically delete logs older than 90 days.
Why wrong: CloudTrail does not automatically delete logs; it only delivers them to S3.
- E
Use an S3 bucket policy that denies s3:DeleteObject unless the principal is the management account.
This policy ensures only the management account can delete objects.
Quick Answer
The answer is to use an S3 bucket policy that denies s3:DeleteObject unless the principal is the management account. This configuration works because S3 bucket policies are resource-based and can explicitly evaluate the requester’s identity using a condition key like aws:PrincipalAccount, ensuring that only the management account—typically the log archive owner in a centralized logging setup—can delete objects, while all other accounts in the organization are blocked. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to prevent deletion of centralized logs without relying on features like S3 Object Lock, which can prevent any deletion but lacks the granularity to allow a specific account. A common trap is assuming CloudTrail automatically manages log retention or that bucket policies cannot restrict deletion to a single account. Memory tip: think of the bucket policy as a bouncer that only lets the management account’s ID through the “delete” door.
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 Organizations with multiple accounts. The security team needs to centralize CloudTrail logs from all accounts into a single S3 bucket in the management account. Which configuration ensures that only the management account can delete the log files?
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
Use an S3 bucket policy that denies s3:DeleteObject unless the principal is the management account.
Option D is correct because using a bucket policy with a condition that denies s3:DeleteObject unless the principal is the management account ensures that only the management account can delete objects. Option A is wrong because CloudTrail does not automatically delete logs. Option B is wrong because S3 bucket policies can be set to restrict deletion. Option C is wrong because S3 Object Lock can prevent deletion but is not specific to the management account.
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.
- ✗
Enable S3 Object Lock on the bucket with governance mode.
Why it's wrong here
Governance mode allows users with special permissions to delete, but it does not restrict to management account only.
- ✗
Use an S3 bucket policy that denies s3:DeleteObject for all principals.
Why it's wrong here
This would prevent anyone from deleting, including the management account.
- ✗
Enable MFA Delete on the S3 bucket.
Why it's wrong here
MFA Delete requires multi-factor authentication but does not restrict to management account only.
- ✗
Configure CloudTrail to automatically delete logs older than 90 days.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail does not automatically delete logs; it only delivers them to S3.
- ✓
Use an S3 bucket policy that denies s3:DeleteObject unless the principal is the management account.
Why this is correct
This policy ensures only the management account can delete objects.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 — study guide chapter
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Security Logging and Monitoring practice questions
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SCS-C02 practice test guide
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
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: Use an S3 bucket policy that denies s3:DeleteObject unless the principal is the management account. — Option D is correct because using a bucket policy with a condition that denies s3:DeleteObject unless the principal is the management account ensures that only the management account can delete objects. Option A is wrong because CloudTrail does not automatically delete logs. Option B is wrong because S3 bucket policies can be set to restrict deletion. Option C is wrong because S3 Object Lock can prevent deletion but is not specific to the management account.
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.
About these practice questions
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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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