Quick Answer
The correct action is to enable default encryption on the S3 bucket. This setting automatically applies server-side encryption to every object written to the bucket, encrypting data at rest using options like SSE-S3, SSE-KMS, or SSE-C without requiring any client-side changes. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how to enforce encryption policies at the bucket level rather than relying on individual uploads, which is a common trap—candidates often overlook that default encryption handles both new and, if configured with a bucket policy, existing objects. A frequent distractor is suggesting client-side encryption or manual object tagging, but default encryption is the simplest, most reliable method for automated compliance. Memory tip: think “default = automatic” — if the requirement is to encrypt all objects at rest without extra steps, default encryption is your go-to, and it pairs naturally with bucket policies to deny unencrypted writes.
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure security. 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 wants to encrypt data at rest for an Amazon S3 bucket. Which action should be taken?
Use client-side encryption before uploading objects.
Why wrong: Client-side encryption is done by the client, not S3.
Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket.
Default encryption ensures all objects are encrypted at rest.
Enable SSL/TLS for the bucket.
Why wrong: SSL/TLS encrypts data in transit, not at rest.
Use AWS CloudHSM to encrypt the bucket.
Why wrong: CloudHSM provides keys, but S3 encryption is still needed.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket.
Enabling default encryption on the S3 bucket ensures that all objects stored in the bucket are automatically encrypted at rest using server-side encryption (SSE-S3, SSE-KMS, or SSE-C). This meets the requirement for encrypting data at rest without requiring any client-side changes, as the encryption is applied by S3 upon write.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Use client-side encryption before uploading objects.
Why it's wrong here
Client-side encryption is done by the client, not S3.
Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket.
Why this is correct
Default encryption ensures all objects are encrypted at rest.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Enable SSL/TLS for the bucket.
Use AWS CloudHSM to encrypt the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
CloudHSM provides keys, but S3 encryption is still needed.
Common exam traps
The trap here is confusing encryption at rest (server-side encryption) with encryption in transit (SSL/TLS), leading candidates to select Option C, which only protects data during transfer, not while stored.
Detailed technical explanation
S3 default encryption can be configured via the PutBucketEncryption API, which applies an encryption rule (e.g., AES256 for SSE-S3 or aws:kms for SSE-KMS) to all new objects. Under the hood, S3 encrypts each object with a unique key, which is then wrapped by a bucket-level key or a KMS key, ensuring that even if an object is overwritten, the old data remains encrypted. A subtle behavior: default encryption does not retroactively encrypt existing objects—you must use a batch operation or S3 Inventory with encryption to encrypt them.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Infrastructure Security — This question tests Infrastructure Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket. — Enabling default encryption on the S3 bucket ensures that all objects stored in the bucket are automatically encrypted at rest using server-side encryption (SSE-S3, SSE-KMS, or SSE-C). This meets the requirement for encrypting data at rest without requiring any client-side changes, as the encryption is applied by S3 upon write.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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