- A
Create a CloudWatch Logs subscription filter to redact credit card numbers from the logs after they are sent to CloudWatch
Why wrong: This redacts logs after they are already stored; the data was already exposed in transit.
- B
Enable RDS encryption with a new KMS key and enforce that all connections to RDS use SSL
Why wrong: RDS is already encrypted at rest; enforcing SSL addresses in transit but does not fix logging.
- C
Modify the application to use TLS when connecting to RDS and update the application code to mask or truncate credit card numbers before logging
Addresses both encryption in transit and data leakage via logs.
- D
Enable encryption in transit between the ALB and EC2 by using HTTPS listeners and configure the ALB to re-encrypt traffic to EC2 using a self-signed certificate on each instance
Why wrong: This adds encryption in transit but does not prevent logging of credit card numbers.
SCS-C02 Encryption in transit Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of data protection. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: encryption in transit. 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 financial services company runs a web application on Amazon EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer. The application processes credit card numbers and stores them in an Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL database. The database is encrypted at rest using AWS KMS. The security team is concerned about data in transit between the ALB and EC2 instances, and between EC2 and RDS. They also want to ensure that the application never logs the full credit card number. The current setup: ALB terminates SSL using a certificate from AWS Certificate Manager (ACM). EC2 instances are in a private subnet. RDS is in a private subnet. The application logs to CloudWatch Logs. The security team reviews the logs and finds full credit card numbers in the logs. Which of the following actions should the security engineer take to address the data protection issues?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"never"Why it matters: Absolute qualifier. True only if the statement has zero exceptions — be cautious of options that seem obvious but break down in edge cases.
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
Modify the application to use TLS when connecting to RDS and update the application code to mask or truncate credit card numbers before logging
Option C is correct because it directly addresses both issues: ensuring data in transit between EC2 and RDS uses TLS, and preventing credit card numbers from being logged by masking them in application code before logging. Option A only redacts logs after they are sent to CloudWatch, which is reactive and does not prevent the exposure in transit or in logs. Option B focuses on encryption at rest (already done) and SSL connections to RDS, but does not fix the logging issue. Option D suggests using HTTPS between ALB and EC2 and a self-signed certificate, but the ALB already terminates SSL; re-encrypting to EC2 would require instance-level certificate management and does not address logging.
Key principle: Encryption in transit
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create a CloudWatch Logs subscription filter to redact credit card numbers from the logs after they are sent to CloudWatch
Why it's wrong here
This redacts logs after they are already stored; the data was already exposed in transit.
- ✗
Enable RDS encryption with a new KMS key and enforce that all connections to RDS use SSL
- ✓
Modify the application to use TLS when connecting to RDS and update the application code to mask or truncate credit card numbers before logging
Why this is correct
Addresses both encryption in transit and data leakage via logs.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "never" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Encryption in transit
- ✗
Enable encryption in transit between the ALB and EC2 by using HTTPS listeners and configure the ALB to re-encrypt traffic to EC2 using a self-signed certificate on each instance
Why it's wrong here
This adds encryption in transit but does not prevent logging of credit card numbers.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates often focus solely on encryption in transit and overlook the application-level logging issue. They may choose options that add more encryption (like D) but fail to address the root cause of data exposure in logs.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Encryption in transit
- Application-level logging
- Defense in depth
- CloudWatch Logs
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
Encryption in transit
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review encryption in transit, then practise related SCS-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
- →
Data Protection — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Data Protection — This question tests Data Protection — Encryption in transit.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Modify the application to use TLS when connecting to RDS and update the application code to mask or truncate credit card numbers before logging — Option C is correct because it directly addresses both issues: ensuring data in transit between EC2 and RDS uses TLS, and preventing credit card numbers from being logged by masking them in application code before logging. Option A only redacts logs after they are sent to CloudWatch, which is reactive and does not prevent the exposure in transit or in logs. Option B focuses on encryption at rest (already done) and SSL connections to RDS, but does not fix the logging issue. Option D suggests using HTTPS between ALB and EC2 and a self-signed certificate, but the ALB already terminates SSL; re-encrypting to EC2 would require instance-level certificate management and does not address logging.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review encryption in transit, then practise related SCS-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "never". Absolute qualifier. True only if the statement has zero exceptions — be cautious of options that seem obvious but break down in edge cases.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Encryption in transit
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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