- A
Enable S3 server access logging on the bucket in account B and check the logs.
Why wrong: S3 server access logs do not include IAM user ARN details; they only log requester IP and bucket owner.
- B
Enable CloudTrail in account B and check the S3 event history for the bucket.
CloudTrail in the bucket owner account records all S3 API calls, including cross-account access, with the full IAM user ARN.
- C
Enable CloudTrail in account A and check the S3 event history.
Why wrong: CloudTrail in the accessing account does not record cross-account S3 operations performed by its users on buckets in another account.
- D
Enable CloudWatch Logs in account A and check the S3 access logs.
Why wrong: CloudWatch Logs is a log management service, not a source of S3 access logs; you would need to configure S3 to send logs to CloudWatch.
SCS-C02 Security Logging and Monitoring Practice Question
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 investigating a potential data exfiltration incident. The engineer needs to determine whether an IAM user in account A accessed an S3 bucket in account B. The engineer has access to both accounts. Which combination of steps should the engineer take to identify the cross-account access?
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
Enable CloudTrail in account B and check the S3 event history for the bucket.
Option B is correct because CloudTrail in account B captures S3 data plane events (like GetObject, PutObject) for the bucket, including the source identity (the IAM user from account A) when cross-account access occurs. By checking the S3 event history in CloudTrail, the engineer can see the user ARN and source IP, directly identifying the cross-account access. S3 server access logs (Option A) would also work but require additional setup and are not listed as a combination step here; CloudTrail is the recommended, immediate logging solution for this investigation.
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 S3 server access logging on the bucket in account B and check the logs.
Why it's wrong here
S3 server access logs do not include IAM user ARN details; they only log requester IP and bucket owner.
- ✓
Enable CloudTrail in account B and check the S3 event history for the bucket.
Why this is correct
CloudTrail in the bucket owner account records all S3 API calls, including cross-account access, with the full IAM user ARN.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable CloudTrail in account A and check the S3 event history.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail in the accessing account does not record cross-account S3 operations performed by its users on buckets in another account.
- ✗
Enable CloudWatch Logs in account A and check the S3 access logs.
Why it's wrong here
CloudWatch Logs is a log management service, not a source of S3 access logs; you would need to configure S3 to send logs to CloudWatch.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think enabling CloudTrail in the source account (account A) will capture cross-account S3 access, but CloudTrail logs are per-account and per-region, so the data event must be logged in the account that owns the resource (account B).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CloudTrail S3 data events are logged with the `userIdentity` field containing the ARN of the IAM user from account A when cross-account access is performed via role assumption or direct policy. The `sourceIPAddress` and `awsRegion` fields further help pinpoint the origin. In a real-world scenario, if the IAM user in account A assumes a role in account B before accessing the bucket, CloudTrail in account B will show the assumed role session, but the original user identity can be traced via the `userIdentity:sessionContext:sessionIssuer` field.
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
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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: Enable CloudTrail in account B and check the S3 event history for the bucket. — Option B is correct because CloudTrail in account B captures S3 data plane events (like GetObject, PutObject) for the bucket, including the source identity (the IAM user from account A) when cross-account access occurs. By checking the S3 event history in CloudTrail, the engineer can see the user ARN and source IP, directly identifying the cross-account access. S3 server access logs (Option A) would also work but require additional setup and are not listed as a combination step here; CloudTrail is the recommended, immediate logging solution for this investigation.
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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