This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure security. 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.
An organization uses AWS Organizations with multiple accounts. The security team wants to enforce that all S3 buckets have server-side encryption enabled. Which approach would enforce this across all accounts?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Apply a Service Control Policy that denies PutBucketPolicy or PutBucketEncryption without encryption.
Option D is correct because a Service Control Policy (SCP) can deny actions that create or modify S3 buckets without encryption. Option A is wrong because AWS Config is detective. Option B is wrong because IAM roles in each account require manual setup. Option C is wrong because S3 Bucket Policies are per-bucket and not centralized.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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 IAM roles in each account to enforce encryption.
Why it's wrong here
Roles cannot enforce bucket-level encryption.
✗
Apply an S3 bucket policy to each bucket requiring encryption.
Why it's wrong here
Manual per-bucket approach, not centralized.
✓
Apply a Service Control Policy that denies PutBucketPolicy or PutBucketEncryption without encryption.
Why this is correct
SCPs centrally prevent noncompliant actions.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
Use AWS Config rules to detect unencrypted buckets.
Why it's wrong here
Config detects but does not prevent.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
The first matching ACL entry is used.
There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
→Check inbound versus outbound direction.
→Read the ACL from top to bottom.
→Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SCS-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Infrastructure Security — This question tests Infrastructure Security — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Apply a Service Control Policy that denies PutBucketPolicy or PutBucketEncryption without encryption. — Option D is correct because a Service Control Policy (SCP) can deny actions that create or modify S3 buckets without encryption. Option A is wrong because AWS Config is detective. Option B is wrong because IAM roles in each account require manual setup. Option C is wrong because S3 Bucket Policies are per-bucket and not centralized.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SCS-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Question Discussion
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