Quick Answer
The answer is AWS CloudTrail because it records all KMS Decrypt API calls as data events, providing a complete audit trail of when a Customer Master Key (CMK) is used to decrypt S3 objects. CloudTrail captures the source IP, user identity, and timestamp for each decryption request, which is exactly what the security team needs to audit KMS key usage for S3 decryption. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between logging services: CloudTrail logs API calls, while S3 server access logs record S3-level requests (not KMS decryption), CloudWatch Logs stores logs but doesn’t generate them, and AWS Config tracks configuration changes, not API operations. A common trap is confusing S3 server access logs with KMS audit trails—remember that decryption happens at the KMS layer, not the S3 layer. Memory tip: “CloudTrail trails API calls; Config configures, it doesn’t call.”
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of data protection. 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.
A company stores data in Amazon S3 and uses AWS KMS with Customer Master Keys (CMKs) for encryption. The security team wants to audit when the CMK is used to decrypt data. Which of the following will provide this information?
AWS Config
Why wrong: Config tracks resource configuration, not API calls.
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
Why wrong: CloudWatch Logs can store CloudTrail logs but does not capture KMS calls directly.
AWS CloudTrail
CloudTrail records KMS Decrypt events.
S3 server access logs
Why wrong: S3 logs show S3 operations, not KMS decryption.
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 D is correct because AWS CloudTrail logs all KMS Decrypt API calls. Option A is wrong because S3 server access logs record requests to S3, not the KMS decryption calls. Option B is wrong because CloudWatch Logs can store logs but does not generate them. Option C is wrong because AWS Config records configuration changes, not API calls.
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.
AWS Config
Why it's wrong here
Config tracks resource configuration, not API calls.
Amazon CloudWatch Logs
Why it's wrong here
CloudWatch Logs can store CloudTrail logs but does not capture KMS calls directly.
AWS CloudTrail
Why this is correct
CloudTrail records KMS Decrypt events.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
S3 server access logs
Why it's wrong here
S3 logs show S3 operations, not KMS decryption.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
S3 logs show S3 operations, not KMS decryption.
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 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
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.
Data Protection — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Data Protection — This question tests Data Protection — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: AWS CloudTrail — Option D is correct because AWS CloudTrail logs all KMS Decrypt API calls. Option A is wrong because S3 server access logs record requests to S3, not the KMS decryption calls. Option B is wrong because CloudWatch Logs can store logs but does not generate them. Option C is wrong because AWS Config records configuration changes, not API calls.
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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