The correct answer involves enabling CloudTrail, applying S3 default encryption, and configuring a lifecycle policy to transition logs to Glacier. CloudTrail captures all API calls across your AWS account, while S3 default encryption ensures the logs are encrypted at rest using server-side encryption, and a lifecycle policy moves older logs to Glacier for cost-effective long-term retention of at least seven years. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of CloudTrail’s integration with S3 storage classes and encryption features, often appearing as a multi-select question where common traps include assuming CloudTrail can write directly to Glacier or confusing replication with retention. Remember the mnemonic “CLG” for CloudTrail, encryption, and Glacier lifecycle to quickly recall the three required steps.
SCS-C02 Management and Security Governance Practice Question
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 needs to ensure that all API calls in an AWS account are logged and that the logs are encrypted at rest and retained for at least 7 years. Which THREE steps should the engineer take? (Choose THREE.)
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Set an S3 lifecycle policy to transition logs to Glacier after 7 years.
Options B, C, and D are correct. Option B: CloudTrail logs API calls. Option C: S3 default encryption encrypts the logs. Option D: Lifecycle policy transitions logs to Glacier for long-term retention. Option A is wrong because CloudTrail does not directly write to Glacier. Option E is wrong because S3 Replication is for copying, not retention.
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.
✗
Configure CloudTrail to deliver logs to Amazon S3 Glacier.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail delivers to S3, not directly to Glacier.
✓
Set an S3 lifecycle policy to transition logs to Glacier after 7 years.
Why this is correct
Retains logs for 7 years.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable S3 Cross-Region Replication to a bucket in another region.
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Enable CloudTrail in the account.
Why this is correct
Logs all API calls.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
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.
Management and Security Governance — This question tests Management and Security Governance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Set an S3 lifecycle policy to transition logs to Glacier after 7 years. — Options B, C, and D are correct. Option B: CloudTrail logs API calls. Option C: S3 default encryption encrypts the logs. Option D: Lifecycle policy transitions logs to Glacier for long-term retention. Option A is wrong because CloudTrail does not directly write to Glacier. Option E is wrong because S3 Replication is for copying, not retention.
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.
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 →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A security team needs to ensure that all API calls made in the AWS account are logged and the logs are stored in a central S3 bucket that is encrypted with a KMS key. Which combination of steps should the team take to achieve this?
medium
A.Enable AWS Config and have it deliver configuration history to an encrypted S3 bucket.
B.Enable CloudWatch Logs and stream logs to an encrypted S3 bucket.
C.Enable VPC Flow Logs and publish to an encrypted S3 bucket.
✓ D.Enable CloudTrail and configure it to deliver logs to an encrypted S3 bucket.
Why D: Option D is correct because CloudTrail logs API calls and can deliver them to an encrypted S3 bucket. Option A is wrong because CloudWatch Logs does not directly store logs in S3. Option B is wrong because Config records resource changes, not API calls. Option C is wrong because VPC Flow Logs capture network traffic, not API calls.
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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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