- A
CloudTrail was enabled to capture management events.
CloudTrail management events include IAM actions like creating access keys and API calls.
- B
S3 server access logs were enabled on the bucket containing the objects.
Why wrong: S3 server access logs record requests to S3, not IAM user actions.
- C
VPC Flow Logs were enabled for the EC2 instance's subnet.
Why wrong: VPC Flow Logs capture network traffic, not IAM actions.
- D
The security engineer had enabled CloudTrail Insights.
Why wrong: CloudTrail Insights is for detecting unusual activity, not for basic logging.
- E
AWS Config was enabled to record resource changes.
Why wrong: AWS Config records resource configuration changes, not API calls.
Question 1,610 of 1,748
SCS-C02 Security Logging and Monitoring Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security logging and monitoring. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 investigating a potential data exfiltration from an EC2 instance. CloudTrail logs show that an IAM user created a new access key for an existing IAM role and used it to call S3 GetObject from an unfamiliar IP address. What is the MOST likely reason the CloudTrail logs captured this activity?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
✓
CloudTrail was enabled to capture management events.
CloudTrail management events record API calls for creating and modifying IAM resources, such as CreateAccessKey for an IAM role. Since the activity involved creating a new access key (a management event) and then using it to call S3 GetObject (a data event), the management event portion was captured because CloudTrail was enabled to log management events by default. The data event (S3 GetObject) would only be logged if data events were specifically enabled, but the question asks why the activity was captured, and the creation of the access key is the key management event that triggered logging.
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.
- ✓
CloudTrail was enabled to capture management events.
Why this is correct
CloudTrail management events include IAM actions like creating access keys and API calls.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
S3 server access logs were enabled on the bucket containing the objects.
Why it's wrong here
S3 server access logs record requests to S3, not IAM user actions.
- ✗
VPC Flow Logs were enabled for the EC2 instance's subnet.
Why it's wrong here
VPC Flow Logs capture network traffic, not IAM actions.
- ✗
The security engineer had enabled CloudTrail Insights.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail Insights is for detecting unusual activity, not for basic logging.
- ✗
AWS Config was enabled to record resource changes.
Why it's wrong here
AWS Config records resource configuration changes, not API calls.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume the S3 GetObject call was captured by CloudTrail, but the question focuses on why the activity was captured at all, and the answer hinges on the default logging of management events (CreateAccessKey) rather than data events, which are not enabled by default.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CloudTrail management events are logged by default for all AWS accounts and include IAM operations such as CreateAccessKey, which is an IAM service API call. The data event (S3 GetObject) requires explicit enablement in the CloudTrail trail configuration, and without it, only the management event (access key creation) would appear in the logs. In this scenario, the security engineer likely saw the CreateAccessKey event in CloudTrail, which is a management event, and then correlated it with the subsequent S3 GetObject call, which may have been logged separately if data events were enabled or inferred from other logs.
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.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
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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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: CloudTrail was enabled to capture management events. — CloudTrail management events record API calls for creating and modifying IAM resources, such as CreateAccessKey for an IAM role. Since the activity involved creating a new access key (a management event) and then using it to call S3 GetObject (a data event), the management event portion was captured because CloudTrail was enabled to log management events by default. The data event (S3 GetObject) would only be logged if data events were specifically enabled, but the question asks why the activity was captured, and the creation of the access key is the key management event that triggered logging.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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