- A
Amazon GuardDuty
GuardDuty detects anomalous API activity using ML.
- B
AWS CloudTrail
CloudTrail logs can be analyzed for anomalous patterns.
- C
VPC Flow Logs
Why wrong: VPC Flow Logs capture network traffic, not API calls.
- D
AWS Config
Why wrong: AWS Config tracks configuration changes.
- E
Amazon Inspector
Why wrong: Amazon Inspector scans for vulnerabilities.
Question 73 of 1,748
SCS-C02 Amazon GuardDuty Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of threat detection and incident response. 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. A key principle to apply: amazon GuardDuty. 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.
Which TWO AWS services can be used to detect anomalous API activity in an AWS account? (Choose two.)
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
✓
Amazon GuardDuty
Amazon GuardDuty is a threat detection service that uses machine learning and anomaly detection to identify suspicious API activity. AWS CloudTrail, with the CloudTrail Insights feature, provides continuous monitoring and detection of anomalous API activity by analyzing management events and generating insights. Additionally, CloudTrail logs can be used with Amazon CloudWatch to set up metric filters and alarms for detecting unusual patterns. Therefore, both GuardDuty and CloudTrail are valid services for detecting anomalous API activity.
Key principle: Amazon GuardDuty
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Amazon GuardDuty
Why this is correct
GuardDuty detects anomalous API activity using ML.
Related concept
Amazon GuardDuty
- ✓
AWS CloudTrail
Why this is correct
CloudTrail logs can be analyzed for anomalous patterns.
Related concept
Amazon GuardDuty
- ✗
VPC Flow Logs
Why it's wrong here
VPC Flow Logs capture network traffic, not API calls.
- ✗
AWS Config
Why it's wrong here
AWS Config tracks configuration changes.
- ✗
Amazon Inspector
Why it's wrong here
Amazon Inspector scans for vulnerabilities.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap is that candidates may select VPC Flow Logs or AWS Config because they are associated with security monitoring, but they do not directly detect anomalous API activity. Additionally, some candidates might think only GuardDuty is a threat detection service and overlook that CloudTrail Insights also provides anomaly detection.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
GuardDuty's anomaly detection for API activity relies on a baseline model built from CloudTrail management events (e.g., CreateUser, DeleteBucket) and optionally S3 data events. It uses statistical modeling and unsupervised learning to identify deviations from normal patterns, such as a sudden increase in Deny authorization failures or API calls from a new IP range. A real-world scenario is detecting a compromised IAM key where an attacker makes API calls from a region the account has never used before; GuardDuty flags this as an 'UnauthorizedAccess:IAMUser/InstanceCredentialExfiltration' finding.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Amazon GuardDuty
- AWS CloudTrail Insights
- Anomalous API Activity
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
Amazon GuardDuty
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review amazon GuardDuty, then practise related SCS-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Threat Detection and Incident Response — This question tests Threat Detection and Incident Response — Amazon GuardDuty.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Amazon GuardDuty — Amazon GuardDuty is a threat detection service that uses machine learning and anomaly detection to identify suspicious API activity. AWS CloudTrail, with the CloudTrail Insights feature, provides continuous monitoring and detection of anomalous API activity by analyzing management events and generating insights. Additionally, CloudTrail logs can be used with Amazon CloudWatch to set up metric filters and alarms for detecting unusual patterns. Therefore, both GuardDuty and CloudTrail are valid services for detecting anomalous API activity.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review amazon GuardDuty, then practise related SCS-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Amazon GuardDuty
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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