This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security logging and monitoring. 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 monitor for unauthorized changes to security group rules in an AWS account. The engineer wants to receive real-time notifications when a security group rule is added, modified, or removed. Which AWS service should the engineer use to capture these API calls?
Amazon GuardDuty
Why wrong: GuardDuty is a threat detection service, not an API logging service.
AWS CloudTrail
CloudTrail records all API calls, including security group modifications.
VPC Flow Logs
Why wrong: VPC Flow Logs capture IP traffic metadata, not API calls.
AWS Config
Why wrong: AWS Config evaluates resource configurations but does not provide real-time API logging.
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
Option B is correct because CloudTrail records API calls, including EC2 AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress, etc. Option A is wrong because VPC Flow Logs capture network traffic, not API calls. Option C is wrong because Config records resource state changes but not real-time API calls. Option D is wrong because GuardDuty detects threats, not API logging.
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 is a threat detection service, not an API logging service.
AWS CloudTrail
Why this is correct
CloudTrail records all API calls, including security group modifications.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
VPC Flow Logs
Why it's wrong here
VPC Flow Logs capture IP traffic metadata, not API calls.
AWS Config
Why it's wrong here
AWS Config evaluates resource configurations but does not provide real-time API logging.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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.
Security Logging and Monitoring — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Security Logging and Monitoring — This question tests Security Logging and Monitoring — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: AWS CloudTrail — Option B is correct because CloudTrail records API calls, including EC2 AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress, etc. Option A is wrong because VPC Flow Logs capture network traffic, not API calls. Option C is wrong because Config records resource state changes but not real-time API calls. Option D is wrong because GuardDuty detects threats, not API logging.
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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