- 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.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to enable CloudTrail in account B and check the S3 event history for the bucket. This works because CloudTrail logs in the bucket owner’s account capture the full identity of the requesting principal, including the IAM user ARN from account A, even when the request originates from a different AWS account. In contrast, the accessing account’s CloudTrail does not record cross-account S3 operations, and S3 server access logs lack IAM user details, making them useless for identifying the specific user. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of CloudTrail’s cross-account logging behavior—a common trap is assuming the source account’s logs will show the access, but only the resource owner’s account records the full principal ARN. Remember the memory tip: “Bucket owner’s trail catches the cross-account mail”—the account that owns the S3 bucket is the only place where the cross-account user’s identity is logged.
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 C is correct because CloudTrail logs in the bucket owner account (account B) will record cross-account access with the user ARN. Option A is wrong because the accessing account's CloudTrail does not record cross-account S3 operations. Option B is wrong because S3 server access logs do not include IAM user details. Option D is wrong because CloudWatch Logs does not store S3 access logs by default.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
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: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SCS-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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Security Logging and Monitoring — study guide chapter
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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 — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
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 C is correct because CloudTrail logs in the bucket owner account (account B) will record cross-account access with the user ARN. Option A is wrong because the accessing account's CloudTrail does not record cross-account S3 operations. Option B is wrong because S3 server access logs do not include IAM user details. Option D is wrong because CloudWatch Logs does not store S3 access logs by default.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SCS-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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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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