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Security Logging and Monitoring →mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

SCS-C02 Security Logging and Monitoring Practice Question

This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security logging and monitoring. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.

CloudTrail log event (JSON):
{
  "eventVersion": "1.08",
  "userIdentity": {
    "type": "AssumedRole",
    "arn": "arn:aws:sts::123456789012:assumed-role/AdminRole/User1",
    "accountId": "123456789012",
    "sessionContext": {
      "sessionIssuer": {
        "type": "Role",
        "arn": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/AdminRole"
      },
      "webIdFederationData": {},
      "attributes": {
        "mfaAuthenticated": "false",
        "creationDate": "2024-01-15T10:00:00Z"
      }
    }
  },
  "eventTime": "2024-01-15T10:05:00Z",
  "eventSource": "ec2.amazonaws.com",
  "eventName": "AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress",
  "awsRegion": "us-east-1",
  "sourceIPAddress": "203.0.113.5",
  "userAgent": "console.amazonaws.com",
  "requestParameters": {
    "groupId": "sg-0123456789abcdef0",
    "ipPermissions": {
      "items": [
        {
          "ipProtocol": "tcp",
          "fromPort": 22,
          "toPort": 22,
          "ipRanges": {
            "items": [
              {"cidrIp": "0.0.0.0/0"}
            ]
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  },
  "responseElements": {
    "requestId": "r-12345678",
    "_return": true
  }
}

Refer to the exhibit. A security engineer finds this CloudTrail log entry. What is the most significant security concern indicated by this event?

Exhibit

Refer to the exhibit.

CloudTrail log event (JSON):
{
  "eventVersion": "1.08",
  "userIdentity": {
    "type": "AssumedRole",
    "arn": "arn:aws:sts::123456789012:assumed-role/AdminRole/User1",
    "accountId": "123456789012",
    "sessionContext": {
      "sessionIssuer": {
        "type": "Role",
        "arn": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/AdminRole"
      },
      "webIdFederationData": {},
      "attributes": {
        "mfaAuthenticated": "false",
        "creationDate": "2024-01-15T10:00:00Z"
      }
    }
  },
  "eventTime": "2024-01-15T10:05:00Z",
  "eventSource": "ec2.amazonaws.com",
  "eventName": "AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress",
  "awsRegion": "us-east-1",
  "sourceIPAddress": "203.0.113.5",
  "userAgent": "console.amazonaws.com",
  "requestParameters": {
    "groupId": "sg-0123456789abcdef0",
    "ipPermissions": {
      "items": [
        {
          "ipProtocol": "tcp",
          "fromPort": 22,
          "toPort": 22,
          "ipRanges": {
            "items": [
              {"cidrIp": "0.0.0.0/0"}
            ]
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  },
  "responseElements": {
    "requestId": "r-12345678",
    "_return": true
  }
}

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 security group rule allows SSH access from any IP address (0.0.0.0/0).

The CloudTrail log entry shows an `AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress` API call that adds a rule allowing SSH (port 22) from 0.0.0.0/0. This is a critical security concern because it exposes the EC2 instance to SSH access from any IP address on the internet, creating a high risk of brute-force attacks, unauthorized access, and potential compromise. Security best practices mandate restricting SSH access to specific trusted IP ranges, not the entire internet.

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 security group rule allows SSH access from any IP address (0.0.0.0/0).

    Why this is correct

    This exposes the instance to the internet on port 22.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • ✗

    The event is a normal administrative action and poses no security concern.

    Why it's wrong here

    Opening SSH to the world is a security risk.

  • ✗

    The user did not have MFA enabled when assuming the AdminRole.

    Why it's wrong here

    MFA is important but the open SSH rule is a more immediate threat.

  • ✗

    The source IP address (203.0.113.5) is from an unusual location.

    Why it's wrong here

    The IP is not necessarily suspicious; it's a test IP.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates may focus on the source IP address or MFA status, but the core security concern is the overly permissive security group rule that grants unrestricted SSH access to the internet.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

The `AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress` API call modifies a security group's inbound rules, and when the CIDR is set to 0.0.0.0/0, it allows traffic from any IPv4 address. This is a common misconfiguration that can be exploited by attackers scanning for open SSH ports (port 22) to perform credential stuffing or exploit vulnerabilities. AWS Trusted Advisor and Security Hub flag such rules as high-severity findings because they violate the principle of least privilege and increase the attack surface.

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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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 security group rule allows SSH access from any IP address (0.0.0.0/0). — The CloudTrail log entry shows an `AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress` API call that adds a rule allowing SSH (port 22) from 0.0.0.0/0. This is a critical security concern because it exposes the EC2 instance to SSH access from any IP address on the internet, creating a high risk of brute-force attacks, unauthorized access, and potential compromise. Security best practices mandate restricting SSH access to specific trusted IP ranges, not the entire internet.

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

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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.