- A
The event was initiated by an IAM user via the AWS Management Console.
Why wrong: Console events have eventType 'AwsConsoleAction' or 'AwsConsoleSignin'.
- B
The event was initiated by an AWS service.
AwsServiceEvent indicates the event was generated by an AWS service.
- C
The event was a sign-in event from the AWS Management Console.
Why wrong: Sign-in events have eventType 'AwsConsoleSignin'.
- D
The event type is an error in the log.
Why wrong: It is a valid event type.
Question 1,006 of 1,748
Decoding CloudTrail's AwsServiceEvent: Actions by AWS Services
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 security engineer is reviewing CloudTrail logs and notices an event with the key 'eventType' set to 'AwsServiceEvent'. What does this indicate?
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
✓
The event was initiated by an AWS service.
In AWS CloudTrail, the 'eventType' field indicates the source of the event. When set to 'AwsServiceEvent', it means the event was generated by an AWS service on behalf of the customer, such as automatic backups, scaling actions, or health checks. This is distinct from events initiated by a user or federated identity, which would have 'eventType' set to 'AwsApiCall' or 'AwsConsoleSignIn'.
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.
- ✗
The event was initiated by an IAM user via the AWS Management Console.
Why it's wrong here
Console events have eventType 'AwsConsoleAction' or 'AwsConsoleSignin'.
- ✓
The event was initiated by an AWS service.
Why this is correct
AwsServiceEvent indicates the event was generated by an AWS service.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The event was a sign-in event from the AWS Management Console.
Why it's wrong here
Sign-in events have eventType 'AwsConsoleSignin'.
- ✗
The event type is an error in the log.
Why it's wrong here
It is a valid event type.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse 'AwsServiceEvent' with API calls made by a user or assume it indicates an error, when in fact it specifically denotes actions initiated by AWS services themselves, not by human users or errors.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CloudTrail logs include the 'eventType' field with values such as 'AwsApiCall', 'AwsConsoleSignIn', 'AwsServiceEvent', and 'AwsConsoleAction'. 'AwsServiceEvent' specifically captures events where an AWS service (e.g., Amazon RDS performing an automated snapshot, AWS Config recording a configuration change) performs an action on your behalf, often without a direct user API call. This is critical for distinguishing between user-driven and automated service actions in audit trails, especially for compliance with frameworks like PCI DSS or SOC 2.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
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: The event was initiated by an AWS service. — In AWS CloudTrail, the 'eventType' field indicates the source of the event. When set to 'AwsServiceEvent', it means the event was generated by an AWS service on behalf of the customer, such as automatic backups, scaling actions, or health checks. This is distinct from events initiated by a user or federated identity, which would have 'eventType' set to 'AwsApiCall' or 'AwsConsoleSignIn'.
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
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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