The answer is to create a CloudWatch Events rule that triggers on CreateAccessKey events and checks if the user's MFA status is inactive. This is correct because CloudTrail logs every CreateAccessKey API call, and CloudWatch Events can evaluate the userIdentity details in real time to determine whether MFA was used during the session, allowing you to detect IAM user create access key without MFA efficiently. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of detective controls versus preventive ones—CloudTrail and Events are ideal for monitoring API-level actions, while Config rules are better for static resource compliance. A common trap is choosing IAM Access Analyzer, which analyzes resource policies, not user actions. Memory tip: think “API call = CloudTrail + Events,” not Config or logs.
SCS-C02 Security Logging and Monitoring Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security logging and monitoring. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 wants to detect and alert on any IAM user that creates a new access key without using multi-factor authentication (MFA). What is the MOST efficient way to achieve this?
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 Events rule that triggers on CreateAccessKey events, and check if the user's MFA status is inactive.
Option B is correct because CloudTrail logs the CreateAccessKey API call, and a CloudWatch Events rule can trigger on this event and evaluate whether MFA was used (via the userIdentity details). Option A is wrong because IAM Access Analyzer is for analyzing resource policies, not monitoring API calls. Option C is wrong because Config rules can evaluate resource configurations, but detecting MFA usage during an API call is better done via CloudTrail. Option D is wrong because S3 server access logs do not capture API events.
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 Events rule that triggers on CreateAccessKey events, and check if the user's MFA status is inactive.
Why this is correct
CloudTrail logs the event and CloudWatch Events can evaluate conditions in real time.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Analyze S3 server access logs to detect access key creation.
Why it's wrong here
S3 server access logs are for S3 object access, not IAM events.
✗
Enable AWS Config managed rule for IAM user MFA, which monitors if users have MFA enabled.
Why it's wrong here
Config rules assess resource configurations, not whether MFA was used during a specific API call.
✗
Use IAM Access Analyzer to monitor for unused access keys.
Why it's wrong here
Access Analyzer analyzes policies, not API calls.
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.
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 Events rule that triggers on CreateAccessKey events, and check if the user's MFA status is inactive. — Option B is correct because CloudTrail logs the CreateAccessKey API call, and a CloudWatch Events rule can trigger on this event and evaluate whether MFA was used (via the userIdentity details). Option A is wrong because IAM Access Analyzer is for analyzing resource policies, not monitoring API calls. Option C is wrong because Config rules can evaluate resource configurations, but detecting MFA usage during an API call is better done via CloudTrail. Option D is wrong because S3 server access logs do not capture API events.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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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 company wants to receive an alert when an IAM user creates a new access key. Which AWS service should be used to trigger the alert?
easy
A.Amazon CloudWatch Logs
B.Amazon GuardDuty
✓ C.AWS CloudTrail and Amazon CloudWatch Events
D.AWS Config
Why C: Option C is correct because CloudTrail logs IAM CreateAccessKey events. A CloudWatch Events rule can match this event and trigger an SNS notification. Option A is wrong because Config evaluates resource compliance, not API events. Option B is wrong because CloudWatch Logs requires logs to be sent, but CloudTrail is the source. Option D is wrong because GuardDuty detects threats, not specific 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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