Quick Answer
The answer is AWS Config with auto-remediation. This is correct because AWS Config continuously evaluates your S3 bucket configurations against a managed rule like s3-bucket-server-side-encryption-enabled, and when it detects a non-compliant bucket lacking SSE-KMS encryption, it can automatically trigger a remediation action using an AWS Systems Manager Automation document such as AWS-EnableS3BucketEncryption. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to enforce encryption policies at scale without manual intervention, often appearing as a question that distinguishes AWS Config from services like AWS CloudTrail or Amazon Macie. A common trap is assuming AWS Config only detects non-compliance without acting, but the key is the auto-remediation feature that pairs Config rules with SSM Automation documents. Memory tip: think “Config catches, SSM fixes” — the rule evaluates, the automation document enforces the SSE-KMS encryption automatically.
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of management and security governance. 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 wants to enforce that all S3 buckets are encrypted with SSE-KMS. Which AWS service can be used to automatically remediate non-compliant buckets?
AWS CloudTrail with CloudWatch Events
Why wrong: CloudTrail logs events but cannot auto-remediate.
AWS Service Catalog
Why wrong: Service Catalog is for managing approved IT services.
AWS Config with auto-remediation
Config can remediate non-compliant resources automatically.
AWS Organizations
Why wrong: Organizations is for multi-account management.
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 Config with auto-remediation
AWS Config with auto-remediation can enforce that all S3 buckets are encrypted with SSE-KMS. You create an AWS Config rule (e.g., s3-bucket-server-side-encryption-enabled) that evaluates bucket encryption settings, and attach an AWS Systems Manager Automation document (e.g., AWS-EnableS3BucketEncryption) as a remediation action. When a non-compliant bucket is detected, AWS Config automatically triggers the remediation action to enable SSE-KMS encryption on that bucket.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
AWS CloudTrail with CloudWatch Events
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail logs events but cannot auto-remediate.
AWS Service Catalog
Why it's wrong here
Service Catalog is for managing approved IT services.
AWS Config with auto-remediation
Why this is correct
Config can remediate non-compliant resources automatically.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AWS Organizations
Why it's wrong here
Organizations is for multi-account management.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may confuse AWS Config's evaluation and remediation capabilities with AWS CloudTrail's logging and event-driven actions, assuming CloudTrail with CloudWatch Events can automatically fix non-compliance without custom code, but AWS Config is the only service that provides native, automated remediation via managed rules and automation documents.
Detailed technical explanation
AWS Config auto-remediation uses AWS Systems Manager Automation documents, which are runbooks that define the steps to fix non-compliance. For SSE-KMS enforcement, the automation document can call the PutBucketEncryption API to set the default encryption with a specific KMS key (e.g., aws/s3 or a customer-managed key). A subtle behavior is that auto-remediation can be configured with a retry count and a maximum execution frequency to avoid infinite loops if the remediation fails or if the resource is repeatedly recreated.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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Management and Security Governance — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Management and Security Governance — This question tests Management and Security Governance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: AWS Config with auto-remediation — AWS Config with auto-remediation can enforce that all S3 buckets are encrypted with SSE-KMS. You create an AWS Config rule (e.g., s3-bucket-server-side-encryption-enabled) that evaluates bucket encryption settings, and attach an AWS Systems Manager Automation document (e.g., AWS-EnableS3BucketEncryption) as a remediation action. When a non-compliant bucket is detected, AWS Config automatically triggers the remediation action to enable SSE-KMS encryption on that bucket.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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