Quick Answer
The answer is AWS CloudTrail. CloudTrail is the correct service because it records every API call made within your AWS account, including the DeleteBucket action, which is exactly what you need to audit S3 bucket deletions. While other services like AWS Config track resource configuration changes, they do not capture the specific API-level events required to see who deleted a bucket and when. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between services that log actions (CloudTrail) versus those that monitor state or detect threats. A common trap is choosing AWS Config, which records changes to bucket policies or settings but not the deletion event itself. Remember the memory tip: CloudTrail is the "call logger" for every API action, so for any audit of who did what, always think CloudTrail first.
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 security engineer discovers that an IAM user has a policy that allows them to delete any S3 bucket in the account. The engineer wants to audit all delete actions performed by this user. Which AWS service should be used?
Amazon GuardDuty
Why wrong: GuardDuty detects threats, not audit all actions.
AWS Config
Why wrong: Config records resource configuration changes, not API calls.
AWS CloudTrail
CloudTrail records API calls for auditing.
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
Why wrong: CloudWatch Logs stores logs, but you need CloudTrail to capture API calls.
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
AWS CloudTrail logs all API calls, including S3 bucket deletions. Option D is correct. Option A (Config) records resource changes but not API calls. Option B (CloudWatch Logs) stores logs but does not capture API calls by default. Option C (GuardDuty) detects threats but does not log all actions.
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.
Amazon GuardDuty
Why it's wrong here
GuardDuty detects threats, not audit all actions.
AWS Config
Why it's wrong here
Config records resource configuration changes, not API calls.
AWS CloudTrail
Why this is correct
CloudTrail records API calls for auditing.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
Why it's wrong here
CloudWatch Logs stores logs, but you need CloudTrail to capture API calls.
Common exam traps
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
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.
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
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.
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 CloudTrail — AWS CloudTrail logs all API calls, including S3 bucket deletions. Option D is correct. Option A (Config) records resource changes but not API calls. Option B (CloudWatch Logs) stores logs but does not capture API calls by default. Option C (GuardDuty) detects threats but does not log all actions.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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