- A
Enable Amazon VPC Flow Logs to capture API calls and use Amazon Athena to query for DeleteBucket events.
Why wrong: VPC Flow Logs capture network traffic, not API calls.
- B
Create an AWS CloudTrail trail that monitors Amazon CloudWatch Logs for DeleteBucket API calls.
Why wrong: CloudTrail does not monitor CloudWatch Logs; it delivers logs to them.
- C
Create an AWS Config rule to detect DeleteBucket API calls and send an SNS notification.
Why wrong: AWS Config rules are for resource configuration compliance, not real-time API call alerts.
- D
Configure CloudTrail to deliver logs to Amazon CloudWatch Logs and create a metric filter for the DeleteBucket API call.
CloudTrail can deliver to CloudWatch Logs, and a metric filter can trigger an alarm.
- E
Create an Amazon CloudWatch Events rule that matches the DeleteBucket API call and triggers an Amazon SNS notification.
CloudWatch Events can match specific API calls and trigger SNS notifications.
Quick Answer
The correct answer involves two steps: creating a CloudWatch Events rule (now Amazon EventBridge) that matches the `DeleteBucket` API call and triggers an SNS notification, and optionally configuring CloudTrail to deliver logs to CloudWatch Logs with a metric filter that triggers an alarm to SNS. Both approaches work because CloudTrail captures all API calls as events, and CloudWatch can either react to those events in real time via EventBridge or analyze log data for patterns using metric filters. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this tests your understanding of the difference between event-driven monitoring (EventBridge) and log-based monitoring (CloudWatch Logs metric filters). A common trap is choosing only one method or confusing CloudTrail’s native SNS delivery with CloudWatch integration. Memory tip: “Events for instant, logs for filters” — EventBridge fires on the API call itself, while metric filters scan stored logs for the same call.
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.
A company is using AWS CloudTrail to monitor API activity in its AWS account. The security team needs to be alerted when unauthorized API calls are made to delete Amazon S3 buckets. Which TWO steps should the security team take to meet this requirement? (Choose TWO.)
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
Configure CloudTrail to deliver logs to Amazon CloudWatch Logs and create a metric filter for the DeleteBucket API call.
Option D is correct because CloudTrail can be configured to deliver logs to Amazon CloudWatch Logs, and a metric filter can be created to match the `DeleteBucket` API call. This metric can then trigger an alarm that sends an SNS notification, alerting the security team to unauthorized API calls. Option E is correct because Amazon CloudWatch Events (now Amazon EventBridge) can directly match the `DeleteBucket` API call from CloudTrail and trigger an SNS notification without needing a metric filter or alarm.
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.
- ✗
Enable Amazon VPC Flow Logs to capture API calls and use Amazon Athena to query for DeleteBucket events.
Why it's wrong here
VPC Flow Logs capture network traffic, not API calls.
- ✗
Create an AWS CloudTrail trail that monitors Amazon CloudWatch Logs for DeleteBucket API calls.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail does not monitor CloudWatch Logs; it delivers logs to them.
- ✗
Create an AWS Config rule to detect DeleteBucket API calls and send an SNS notification.
Why it's wrong here
AWS Config rules are for resource configuration compliance, not real-time API call alerts.
- ✓
Configure CloudTrail to deliver logs to Amazon CloudWatch Logs and create a metric filter for the DeleteBucket API call.
Why this is correct
CloudTrail can deliver to CloudWatch Logs, and a metric filter can trigger an alarm.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Create an Amazon CloudWatch Events rule that matches the DeleteBucket API call and triggers an Amazon SNS notification.
Why this is correct
CloudWatch Events can match specific API calls and trigger SNS notifications.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse AWS Config (which evaluates resource configurations) with CloudTrail (which records API activity), or think VPC Flow Logs can capture API-level events instead of network flows.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CloudTrail logs are JSON records of API calls; when delivered to CloudWatch Logs, a metric filter uses a pattern like `{ $.eventName = "DeleteBucket" }` to count matching events. CloudWatch Events (EventBridge) uses an event pattern matching the same CloudTrail event structure, allowing direct invocation of SNS, Lambda, or other targets. In a real-world scenario, combining both approaches provides redundancy: the metric filter can trigger an alarm for threshold-based alerts (e.g., multiple deletions in a short time), while the EventBridge rule provides immediate, event-driven notification for each unauthorized call.
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: Configure CloudTrail to deliver logs to Amazon CloudWatch Logs and create a metric filter for the DeleteBucket API call. — Option D is correct because CloudTrail can be configured to deliver logs to Amazon CloudWatch Logs, and a metric filter can be created to match the `DeleteBucket` API call. This metric can then trigger an alarm that sends an SNS notification, alerting the security team to unauthorized API calls. Option E is correct because Amazon CloudWatch Events (now Amazon EventBridge) can directly match the `DeleteBucket` API call from CloudTrail and trigger an SNS notification without needing a metric filter or alarm.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
4 more ways this is tested on SCS-C02
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 security engineer needs to monitor AWS account activity for suspicious API calls and receive alerts. Which AWS service should the engineer use to meet this requirement?
easy- A.VPC Flow Logs
- B.AWS Config with AWS Config Rules
- ✓ C.AWS CloudTrail with CloudWatch Alarms
- D.Amazon GuardDuty
Why C: Option C is correct because CloudTrail logs API activity and can be integrated with CloudWatch Alarms for alerts. Option A is wrong because GuardDuty focuses on threat detection from various data sources, not specifically API monitoring. Option B is wrong because VPC Flow Logs capture network traffic. Option D is wrong because AWS Config tracks configuration changes.
Variation 2. A company wants to monitor AWS account activity and receive real-time notifications for specific API calls. Which TWO services should the company use together? (Choose TWO.)
easy- A.Amazon CloudWatch Logs
- ✓ B.Amazon CloudWatch Events (Amazon EventBridge)
- C.AWS Config
- D.Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS)
- ✓ E.AWS CloudTrail
Why B: Options B and E are correct. CloudTrail logs API calls, and CloudWatch Events (now Amazon EventBridge) can trigger notifications based on patterns. Option A is wrong because CloudWatch Logs is for log storage, not event-driven notifications. Option C is wrong because AWS Config is for resource tracking. Option D is wrong because SNS is a notification service but needs a source of events.
Variation 3. A security engineer is responsible for monitoring AWS account activity. The engineer needs to receive real-time notifications when specific API calls are made, such as 'DeleteTrail' or 'UpdateTrail'. The engineer wants to use AWS services to achieve this with minimal latency. Which combination of services should the engineer use?
easy- A.CloudTrail -> Amazon EventBridge -> Amazon SNS
- B.CloudTrail -> Amazon S3 -> S3 event notification -> AWS Lambda -> Amazon SNS
- C.CloudTrail -> CloudWatch Logs -> CloudWatch Logs subscription filter -> AWS Lambda -> Amazon SNS
- ✓ D.CloudTrail -> CloudWatch Logs -> CloudWatch metric filter -> CloudWatch alarm -> Amazon SNS
Why D: CloudTrail delivers events to CloudWatch Logs in near real-time. You can then create a CloudWatch Logs metric filter to match specific API calls and set up a CloudWatch alarm that triggers an SNS notification. This provides real-time alerts. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because EventBridge can directly receive CloudTrail events, but CloudTrail logs are not automatically sent to EventBridge; you need to set up a rule. Option C is wrong because CloudWatch Logs subscription filters are for streaming to other services, not for real-time alarms. Option D is wrong because S3 event notifications are not real-time and are for object-level events.
Variation 4. A company wants to detect and alert on unauthorized API calls in their AWS account. Which AWS service can provide real-time notifications when specific API calls are made?
easy- A.AWS Config
- ✓ B.Amazon CloudWatch Events (EventBridge)
- C.Amazon GuardDuty
- D.AWS Trusted Advisor
Why B: Option B is correct because CloudWatch Events (now Amazon EventBridge) can match patterns in CloudTrail events and trigger notifications. Option A is incorrect because AWS Config evaluates resource configurations, not API calls. Option C is incorrect because AWS Trusted Advisor provides recommendations, not real-time alerts. Option D is incorrect because Amazon GuardDuty focuses on threat detection, not specific API call patterns.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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