- A
Enable S3 Object Lock in Governance mode with a retention period of 30 days.
Why wrong: Object Lock prevents deletion entirely during the retention period, which may conflict with the need to allow deletion.
- B
Enable S3 Versioning on the buckets and ensure that the IAM policies include s3:DeleteObjectVersion where appropriate.
Versioning allows recovery of deleted objects via delete markers or version restoration.
- C
Remove the s3:DeleteObject permission from all IAM policies and use S3 Lifecycle policies to expire objects after 30 days.
Why wrong: This prevents users from deleting objects, which is not the requirement; also lifecycle expiration is permanent deletion.
- D
Change the default encryption from SSE-S3 to SSE-C and use a separate key for each object.
Why wrong: Encryption method does not affect deletion recovery.
Quick Answer
The answer is to enable S3 Versioning on the buckets and adjust IAM policies to include s3:DeleteObjectVersion where appropriate. This works because versioning preserves every object version, so when an authorized user issues a delete request, S3 does not erase the underlying data; instead, it places a delete marker on the current version, making the object appear absent while all prior versions remain intact and recoverable. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how S3 versioning interacts with data recovery and retention requirements, especially in HIPAA contexts where PHI must be recoverable for 30 days. A common trap is assuming MFA Delete alone prevents permanent deletion—it only protects versioning configurations, not object deletion itself. Another pitfall is confusing Object Lock (which blocks writes and deletes) with versioning’s soft-delete mechanism. Remember the memory tip: “Versioning turns delete into hide—undo with a version ID.”
SCS-C02 Data Protection Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of data protection. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 healthcare company runs a HIPAA-compliant application on AWS. The application uses Amazon S3 to store Protected Health Information (PHI). The company has implemented the following controls: (1) All S3 buckets are configured with default encryption using SSE-S3. (2) Bucket policies restrict access to only authorized IAM roles. (3) S3 access logs are enabled and sent to a centralized logging account. (4) MFA Delete is enabled on all buckets. (5) Object lock is not enabled. Recently, an internal auditor discovered that when an authorized user deletes an object, the object is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. The company's data retention policy requires that deleted PHI be recoverable for at least 30 days after deletion. A review of the IAM policies shows that users have s3:DeleteObject permission. The auditor also notes that the bucket versioning is not enabled. The security team needs to implement a solution that allows authorized users to delete objects but ensures that deleted objects can be recovered within 30 days. Which of the following is the MOST effective course of action?
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 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
Enable S3 Versioning on the buckets and ensure that the IAM policies include s3:DeleteObjectVersion where appropriate.
Enabling S3 Versioning is the most effective solution because it preserves all object versions, including deleted objects (which become delete markers). With versioning enabled, authorized users can still use s3:DeleteObject to delete the current version, but the previous versions remain recoverable. Since the requirement is to recover deleted PHI within 30 days, versioning combined with a lifecycle policy to permanently delete old versions after 30 days would meet the retention policy without blocking immediate deletion.
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 in Governance mode with a retention period of 30 days.
Why it's wrong here
Object Lock prevents deletion entirely during the retention period, which may conflict with the need to allow deletion.
- ✓
Enable S3 Versioning on the buckets and ensure that the IAM policies include s3:DeleteObjectVersion where appropriate.
Why this is correct
Versioning allows recovery of deleted objects via delete markers or version restoration.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Remove the s3:DeleteObject permission from all IAM policies and use S3 Lifecycle policies to expire objects after 30 days.
Why it's wrong here
This prevents users from deleting objects, which is not the requirement; also lifecycle expiration is permanent deletion.
- ✗
Change the default encryption from SSE-S3 to SSE-C and use a separate key for each object.
Why it's wrong here
Encryption method does not affect deletion recovery.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think S3 Object Lock (Option A) is the only way to prevent deletion, but they overlook that versioning allows deletion with recoverability, which directly satisfies the requirement for authorized users to delete objects while retaining the ability to recover them within 30 days.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
S3 Versioning creates a separate version ID for each object upload; when a delete request is made with s3:DeleteObject, S3 inserts a delete marker instead of physically removing the object, making the object appear absent in the console but recoverable by deleting the delete marker. To fully comply with the 30-day retention, a lifecycle rule can be configured to permanently delete noncurrent versions after 30 days, ensuring old versions are automatically purged after the retention window. Without versioning, s3:DeleteObject permanently erases the object, as S3 does not maintain any undo capability.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Data Protection — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Data Protection practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SCS-C02 questions
1,738 questions across all exam domains
- →
AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SCS-C02 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SCS-C02 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Threat Detection and Incident Response practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Threat Detection and Incident Response.
Security Logging and Monitoring practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Security Logging and Monitoring.
Identity and Access Management practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Identity and Access Management.
Management and Security Governance practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Management and Security Governance.
Infrastructure Security practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Infrastructure Security.
Data Protection practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Data Protection.
SCS-C02 fundamentals practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to SCS-C02 fundamentals.
SCS-C02 scenario practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to SCS-C02 scenario.
SCS-C02 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to SCS-C02 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free SCS-C02 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Data Protection — This question tests Data Protection — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable S3 Versioning on the buckets and ensure that the IAM policies include s3:DeleteObjectVersion where appropriate. — Enabling S3 Versioning is the most effective solution because it preserves all object versions, including deleted objects (which become delete markers). With versioning enabled, authorized users can still use s3:DeleteObject to delete the current version, but the previous versions remain recoverable. Since the requirement is to recover deleted PHI within 30 days, versioning combined with a lifecycle policy to permanently delete old versions after 30 days would meet the retention policy without blocking immediate deletion.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.