- A
Create a CloudWatch metric filter on CloudTrail logs for StopLogging or DeleteTrail events and set an alarm.
Real-time detection.
- B
Use Amazon GuardDuty to monitor for disablement events.
Why wrong: GuardDuty does not monitor CloudTrail disablement.
- C
Create an AWS Config rule to detect when CloudTrail is disabled.
Why wrong: Config does not monitor API calls.
- D
Configure S3 event notifications on the CloudTrail bucket.
Why wrong: S3 events are for object operations.
Question 911 of 1,748
SCS-C02 Security Logging and Monitoring Practice Question
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 company uses AWS CloudTrail to log all API calls. The security team wants to ensure that any attempt to disable CloudTrail logging is detected and alerted within minutes. Which solution should they implement?
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
✓
Create a CloudWatch metric filter on CloudTrail logs for StopLogging or DeleteTrail events and set an alarm.
Option A is correct because CloudTrail logs API calls like `StopLogging` and `DeleteTrail` to CloudWatch Logs. By creating a metric filter on these specific event names and setting a CloudWatch alarm, the security team can receive near-real-time alerts within minutes of any attempt to disable CloudTrail logging, meeting the detection requirement.
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.
- ✓
Create a CloudWatch metric filter on CloudTrail logs for StopLogging or DeleteTrail events and set an alarm.
Why this is correct
Real-time detection.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use Amazon GuardDuty to monitor for disablement events.
Why it's wrong here
GuardDuty does not monitor CloudTrail disablement.
- ✗
Create an AWS Config rule to detect when CloudTrail is disabled.
Why it's wrong here
Config does not monitor API calls.
- ✗
Configure S3 event notifications on the CloudTrail bucket.
Why it's wrong here
S3 events are for object operations.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse AWS Config's periodic evaluation with real-time CloudWatch alarm capabilities, or mistakenly think GuardDuty's threat detection includes specific API-level alerts for CloudTrail disablement, when in fact GuardDuty does not generate findings for these specific management events by default.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CloudTrail delivers management events to CloudWatch Logs via a log group, and CloudWatch metric filters use pattern matching on the `eventName` field (e.g., `{ ($.eventName = "StopLogging") || ($.eventName = "DeleteTrail") }`). The alarm transitions to ALARM state as soon as the metric exceeds a threshold (e.g., >= 1 within 1 minute), enabling sub-minute detection. In a real-world scenario, this setup is critical for compliance frameworks like PCI DSS that require immediate notification of logging changes.
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.
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Security Logging and Monitoring — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Security Logging and Monitoring — This question tests Security Logging and Monitoring — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a CloudWatch metric filter on CloudTrail logs for StopLogging or DeleteTrail events and set an alarm. — Option A is correct because CloudTrail logs API calls like `StopLogging` and `DeleteTrail` to CloudWatch Logs. By creating a metric filter on these specific event names and setting a CloudWatch alarm, the security team can receive near-real-time alerts within minutes of any attempt to disable CloudTrail logging, meeting the detection requirement.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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