The answer is to enable AWS CloudTrail and monitor IAM events using Amazon CloudWatch Logs with a metric filter for CreateUser and AttachUserPolicy. This works because CloudTrail records every IAM API call as an event, so any attempt to create a backdoor user or attach a policy to it generates a log entry; by creating a CloudWatch metric filter that triggers on these specific event names, you can set up an alarm to detect the backdoor creation in near real-time. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding that CloudTrail is the detective control for API-level actions, while services like IAM Access Analyzer or AWS Config evaluate static policies or resource configurations, not live user actions. A common trap is confusing IAM Access Analyzer’s policy validation with user activity monitoring—remember, Access Analyzer checks for unintended resource access, not who clicked what. Memory tip: “CloudTrail catches the trail of user creation; CloudWatch filters the smoke.”
SCS-C02 Identity and Access Management Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of identity and access management. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 notices that an IAM user has permissions to create new IAM users and attach policies. What is the most effective way to detect if this user created a backdoor user?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable AWS CloudTrail and monitor IAM events using Amazon CloudWatch Logs and create a metric filter for CreateUser and AttachUserPolicy events.
Option A is correct because AWS CloudTrail logs all IAM API calls, enabling detection of user creation and policy attachment. Option B is wrong because IAM Access Analyzer focuses on resource policies, not user actions. Option C is wrong because AWS Config rules evaluate resource configurations, not API calls. Option D is wrong because S3 server access logs track object-level access, not IAM actions.
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.
✗
Review S3 access logs for any PutObject calls from the IAM user.
Why it's wrong here
S3 access logs are unrelated to IAM user creation actions.
✗
Use IAM Access Analyzer to review all IAM policies for potential backdoor access.
Why it's wrong here
Access Analyzer analyzes resource-based policies, not user actions.
✗
Configure an AWS Config rule to check for IAM users with administrative policies.
Why it's wrong here
Config evaluates resource compliance, not real-time API calls.
✓
Enable AWS CloudTrail and monitor IAM events using Amazon CloudWatch Logs and create a metric filter for CreateUser and AttachUserPolicy events.
Why this is correct
CloudTrail records all IAM API calls, allowing detection of unauthorized actions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 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.
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.
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable AWS CloudTrail and monitor IAM events using Amazon CloudWatch Logs and create a metric filter for CreateUser and AttachUserPolicy events. — Option A is correct because AWS CloudTrail logs all IAM API calls, enabling detection of user creation and policy attachment. Option B is wrong because IAM Access Analyzer focuses on resource policies, not user actions. Option C is wrong because AWS Config rules evaluate resource configurations, not API calls. Option D is wrong because S3 server access logs track object-level access, not IAM actions.
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.
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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.
Question Discussion
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