- A
CloudWatch Logs metric filter and CloudWatch alarm
Why wrong: Metric filters add latency due to log processing.
- B
AWS Config and AWS Lambda
Why wrong: Config evaluates changes periodically, not real-time.
- C
Amazon CloudWatch Events (EventBridge) and Amazon SNS
EventBridge provides near real-time event matching.
- D
Amazon GuardDuty and Amazon SNS
Why wrong: GuardDuty does not monitor for EC2 termination.
Question 844 of 1,748
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 team wants to detect and alert when an EC2 instance is terminated. They have enabled CloudTrail and are sending logs to CloudWatch Logs. Which combination of services should they use to achieve this with minimal latency?
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 CloudWatch Events (EventBridge) and Amazon SNS
Option C is correct because Amazon CloudWatch Events (EventBridge) can monitor EC2 instance state changes in real-time and trigger an SNS notification with minimal latency. Option A is wrong because metric filters and alarms from CloudWatch Logs introduce latency due to log ingestion and processing. Option B is wrong because AWS Config evaluates changes periodically (not real-time). Option D is wrong because GuardDuty focuses on security threats, not instance state changes.
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.
- ✗
CloudWatch Logs metric filter and CloudWatch alarm
Why it's wrong here
Metric filters add latency due to log processing.
- ✗
AWS Config and AWS Lambda
Why it's wrong here
Config evaluates changes periodically, not real-time.
- ✓
Amazon CloudWatch Events (EventBridge) and Amazon SNS
Why this is correct
EventBridge provides near real-time event matching.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Amazon GuardDuty and Amazon SNS
Why it's wrong here
GuardDuty does not monitor for EC2 termination.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
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
How to think about this question
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.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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.
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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: Amazon CloudWatch Events (EventBridge) and Amazon SNS — Option C is correct because Amazon CloudWatch Events (EventBridge) can monitor EC2 instance state changes in real-time and trigger an SNS notification with minimal latency. Option A is wrong because metric filters and alarms from CloudWatch Logs introduce latency due to log ingestion and processing. Option B is wrong because AWS Config evaluates changes periodically (not real-time). Option D is wrong because GuardDuty focuses on security threats, not instance state changes.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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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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