- A
Use an S3 bucket policy to deny unencrypted uploads to the source bucket
Why wrong: Unrelated to log encryption.
- B
Enable default encryption on the source bucket
Why wrong: Logs go to destination bucket.
- C
Add a bucket policy on the destination bucket that grants the S3 log delivery service permission to use the KMS key
Required for SSE-KMS on log delivery.
- D
Configure the destination bucket with a lifecycle policy
Why wrong: Lifecycle does not affect encryption.
Question 1,528 of 1,748
SCS-C02 Data Protection Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of data protection. 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 uses S3 Server Access Logs to audit access to their S3 buckets. The security team wants to ensure that the log files themselves are encrypted at rest using SSE-KMS. Which configuration step is necessary?
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
✓
Add a bucket policy on the destination bucket that grants the S3 log delivery service permission to use the KMS key
To encrypt S3 Server Access Logs using SSE-KMS, the destination bucket's bucket policy must grant the S3 log delivery service permission to use the KMS key. This allows S3 to encrypt log objects with that key. Option C is correct. Option A is about denying unencrypted uploads to the source bucket, which does not affect log encryption. Option B enables default encryption on the source bucket, but logs are written to the destination bucket. Option D is about lifecycle policies, which do not control encryption.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use an S3 bucket policy to deny unencrypted uploads to the source bucket
Why it's wrong here
Unrelated to log encryption.
- ✗
Enable default encryption on the source bucket
Why it's wrong here
Logs go to destination bucket.
- ✓
Add a bucket policy on the destination bucket that grants the S3 log delivery service permission to use the KMS key
Why this is correct
Required for SSE-KMS on log delivery.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- ✗
Configure the destination bucket with a lifecycle policy
Why it's wrong here
Lifecycle does not affect encryption.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
- The first matching ACL entry is used.
- There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
- Check inbound versus outbound direction.
- Read the ACL from top to bottom.
- Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SCS-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
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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 — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add a bucket policy on the destination bucket that grants the S3 log delivery service permission to use the KMS key — To encrypt S3 Server Access Logs using SSE-KMS, the destination bucket's bucket policy must grant the S3 log delivery service permission to use the KMS key. This allows S3 to encrypt log objects with that key. Option C is correct. Option A is about denying unencrypted uploads to the source bucket, which does not affect log encryption. Option B enables default encryption on the source bucket, but logs are written to the destination bucket. Option D is about lifecycle policies, which do not control encryption.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SCS-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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