The answer is to enable session logging in the Session Manager preferences, sending logs to both Amazon S3 and CloudWatch Logs. This configuration captures all session activity, including the commands executed within each session, by streaming output to these destinations for auditing and real-time monitoring. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding that Session Manager itself handles command recording, not CloudTrail (which only logs API calls to start or stop sessions) or IAM policies (which control permissions, not logging). A common trap is confusing CloudTrail with session-level logging—remember that CloudTrail sees the door open and close, but Session Manager logs what happens inside the room. For a memory tip, think “S3 and Logs for logs”: the two storage targets for session logs are S3 and CloudWatch Logs, and enabling both ensures complete command recording for compliance.
SCS-C02 Infrastructure Security Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure security. 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 Systems Manager Session Manager to manage EC2 instances. The security team wants to ensure that all SSH sessions are logged and that commands are recorded. What should be configured?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable session logging in the Session Manager preferences to send logs to Amazon S3 and CloudWatch Logs
Option C is correct because Session Manager can log session activity to Amazon S3 and CloudWatch Logs, and enable command recording. Option A is wrong because an IAM policy only controls permissions to start sessions, not logging. Option B is wrong because security groups control network access, not logging. Option D is wrong because CloudTrail logs API calls, not the commands run within a session.
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 session logging in the Session Manager preferences to send logs to Amazon S3 and CloudWatch Logs
Why this is correct
Session Manager preferences allow logging of session activities and command recording.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Configure the security group to allow inbound SSH from the Session Manager service
Why it's wrong here
Session Manager does not require inbound SSH; it uses the Systems Manager agent.
✗
Enable AWS CloudTrail to log Systems Manager API calls
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail logs API calls, not the commands executed within the session.
✗
Create an IAM policy that allows ssm:StartSession and attach it to the instance role
Why it's wrong here
This enables sessions but does not log or record commands.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
CloudTrail logs API calls, not the commands executed within the session.
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.
Infrastructure Security — This question tests Infrastructure Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable session logging in the Session Manager preferences to send logs to Amazon S3 and CloudWatch Logs — Option C is correct because Session Manager can log session activity to Amazon S3 and CloudWatch Logs, and enable command recording. Option A is wrong because an IAM policy only controls permissions to start sessions, not logging. Option B is wrong because security groups control network access, not logging. Option D is wrong because CloudTrail logs API calls, not the commands run within a session.
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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