- A
Add a KMS key policy that allows CloudWatch Logs to use the key.
Why wrong: The key policy is necessary but not sufficient; the log group must be configured to use the key.
- B
Associate the CMK with the CloudWatch Logs log group by specifying the key ARN in the log group's encryption configuration.
You can encrypt a log group with a CMK using the console, CLI, or API.
- C
Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket used for log export with a CMK.
Why wrong: This only encrypts exported logs, not the logs stored in CloudWatch.
- D
Configure the S3 bucket policy to require SSE-KMS for log delivery.
Why wrong: CloudWatch Logs stores logs in its own storage, not S3. S3 is used for exporting logs, not for storage.
Question 966 of 1,748
SCS-C02 Security Logging and Monitoring Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security logging and monitoring. 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 company is using Amazon CloudWatch Logs to store application logs. The security team needs to ensure that logs are encrypted at rest using a customer-managed KMS key (CMK). What configuration is required?
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
✓
Associate the CMK with the CloudWatch Logs log group by specifying the key ARN in the log group's encryption configuration.
Option B is correct because CloudWatch Logs supports server-side encryption with a customer-managed KMS key (CMK) by associating the key ARN with the log group. This is done via the CloudWatch Logs console, AWS CLI, or SDK using the `associate-kms-key` operation, which encrypts all log data at rest within that log group. The KMS key policy must also grant the CloudWatch Logs service principal (`logs.region.amazonaws.com`) permission to use the key, but the core configuration step is associating the key with the log group.
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.
- ✗
Add a KMS key policy that allows CloudWatch Logs to use the key.
Why it's wrong here
The key policy is necessary but not sufficient; the log group must be configured to use the key.
- ✓
Associate the CMK with the CloudWatch Logs log group by specifying the key ARN in the log group's encryption configuration.
Why this is correct
You can encrypt a log group with a CMK using the console, CLI, or API.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket used for log export with a CMK.
Why it's wrong here
This only encrypts exported logs, not the logs stored in CloudWatch.
- ✗
Configure the S3 bucket policy to require SSE-KMS for log delivery.
Why it's wrong here
CloudWatch Logs stores logs in its own storage, not S3. S3 is used for exporting logs, not for storage.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the necessary KMS key policy (Option A) with the actual configuration step of associating the key with the log group, or they mistakenly think that encrypting the S3 export destination (Options C or D) encrypts the logs within CloudWatch Logs itself.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When you associate a CMK with a CloudWatch Logs log group, the service uses the key to encrypt log data via envelope encryption, where a unique data key (encrypted by the CMK) encrypts each log event. The KMS key policy must include a statement allowing the CloudWatch Logs service principal to perform `kms:Encrypt`, `kms:Decrypt`, and `kms:GenerateDataKey` operations. A real-world scenario is compliance with PCI DSS or HIPAA, where logs containing sensitive data must be encrypted at rest with a key controlled by the customer, not an AWS-managed key.
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.
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
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.
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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: Associate the CMK with the CloudWatch Logs log group by specifying the key ARN in the log group's encryption configuration. — Option B is correct because CloudWatch Logs supports server-side encryption with a customer-managed KMS key (CMK) by associating the key ARN with the log group. This is done via the CloudWatch Logs console, AWS CLI, or SDK using the `associate-kms-key` operation, which encrypts all log data at rest within that log group. The KMS key policy must also grant the CloudWatch Logs service principal (`logs.region.amazonaws.com`) permission to use the key, but the core configuration step is associating the key with the log group.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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