Quick Answer
The answer is Amazon S3 with server-side encryption (SSE-S3), as it provides the most cost-effective centralized logging encryption while meeting the requirement for encryption at rest. SSE-S3 uses AES-256 encryption managed entirely by AWS with no additional cost beyond standard S3 storage, making it ideal for aggregating logs from multiple accounts and on-premises servers without incurring per-GB ingestion fees or complex key management overhead. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between storage services based on cost and encryption needs—a common trap is choosing CloudWatch Logs (which charges for ingestion and storage) or Kinesis Firehose (which adds delivery costs), while Glacier is reserved for archival, not active log retrieval. Remember the memory tip: “SSE-S3 saves your budget—no extra fees for encryption, just simple storage.”
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 company needs to centralize security logs from multiple AWS accounts and on-premises servers. The logs must be encrypted at rest and stored in a cost-effective manner. Which solution meets these requirements?
Use Amazon S3 Glacier with Vault Lock
Why wrong: Glacier is for archival, not active log storage.
Use Amazon S3 with server-side encryption (SSE-S3)
S3 provides cost-effective encrypted storage.
Use Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose to deliver logs to Amazon Redshift
Why wrong: Redshift is for data warehousing and more expensive.
Use Amazon CloudWatch Logs with KMS encryption
Why wrong: CloudWatch Logs is more expensive for long-term storage.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Use Amazon S3 with server-side encryption (SSE-S3)
Amazon S3 with SSE-S3 provides cost-effective encrypted storage. CloudWatch Logs is more expensive. Kinesis Firehose can deliver to S3 but adds cost. Glacier is for archival, not active logging.
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.
Use Amazon S3 Glacier with Vault Lock
Why it's wrong here
Glacier is for archival, not active log storage.
Use Amazon S3 with server-side encryption (SSE-S3)
Why this is correct
S3 provides cost-effective encrypted storage.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Use Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose to deliver logs to Amazon Redshift
Why it's wrong here
Redshift is for data warehousing and more expensive.
Use Amazon CloudWatch Logs with KMS encryption
Why it's wrong here
CloudWatch Logs is more expensive for long-term storage.
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.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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.
Security Logging and Monitoring — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Security Logging and Monitoring — This question tests Security Logging and Monitoring — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Use Amazon S3 with server-side encryption (SSE-S3) — Amazon S3 with SSE-S3 provides cost-effective encrypted storage. CloudWatch Logs is more expensive. Kinesis Firehose can deliver to S3 but adds cost. Glacier is for archival, not active logging.
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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