The correct three steps are enabling encryption at rest with a KMS key, enabling encryption in transit using the mount helper’s tls option, and applying a KMS key policy to restrict which keys can be used for the file system. This combination works because Amazon EFS separates encryption at rest, which is handled by a customer-managed KMS key, from encryption in transit, which requires the client to mount the file system with TLS. The KMS key policy is the most direct way to control key usage, as it defines which principals and services can use the key for EFS encryption, unlike IAM policies which are less granular for this specific control. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding that EFS does not support SSE-S3 and that key policies are the authoritative mechanism for restricting key access—a common trap is confusing IAM with key policies. Memory tip: think “KMS key policy for the key, TLS for the wire, and KMS key for the file.”
SCS-C02 Data Protection Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of data protection. 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 company is designing a data protection strategy for Amazon EFS file systems. The security team requires encryption at rest and in transit. Additionally, the team needs to control which KMS keys can be used to encrypt the file system. Which THREE steps should the team take?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Configure a KMS key policy that allows the EFS service to use the key.
Option A is correct because EFS supports encryption at rest using a KMS key. Option B is correct because enabling encryption of data in transit using TLS is a separate setting. Option D is correct because a KMS key policy can restrict which keys can be used for EFS. Option C is wrong because EFS does not support SSE-S3. Option E is wrong because IAM policies for users can restrict KMS actions, but key policy is more direct.
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.
✓
Configure a KMS key policy that allows the EFS service to use the key.
Why this is correct
Key policy must grant EFS permissions to use the key.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Enable encryption at rest using a customer-managed KMS key when creating the EFS file system.
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.
Data Protection — This question tests Data Protection — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure a KMS key policy that allows the EFS service to use the key. — Option A is correct because EFS supports encryption at rest using a KMS key. Option B is correct because enabling encryption of data in transit using TLS is a separate setting. Option D is correct because a KMS key policy can restrict which keys can be used for EFS. Option C is wrong because EFS does not support SSE-S3. Option E is wrong because IAM policies for users can restrict KMS actions, but key policy is more direct.
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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