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Infrastructure Security →mediumMultiple SelectObjective-mapped

SCS-C02 Infrastructure Security Practice Question

This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure security. 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 has an S3 bucket that stores sensitive data. The security team wants to ensure that all objects in the bucket are encrypted at rest. Which combination of actions should be taken? (Choose TWO.)

A
Use an SCP to deny the s3:PutObject action unless the request includes the x-amz-server-side-encryption header.
This action uses an SCP to deny s3:PutObject unless the request includes the x-amz-server-side-encryption header, enforcing encryption at upload time across the account. This is a correct action.
B
Use AWS KMS to create a customer master key and assign it to the bucket.
Why wrong: Creating a KMS key and assigning it to the bucket does not automatically encrypt objects; it only makes the key available. Default encryption or explicit headers are still required. This is not a sufficient action.
C
Enable AWS CloudTrail to log S3 API calls.
Why wrong: CloudTrail logs API calls but does not enforce encryption. It only provides audit capability. This is not an action that ensures encryption.
D
Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket using SSE-S3 or SSE-KMS.
Enabling default encryption on the S3 bucket using SSE-S3 or SSE-KMS ensures any object uploaded without explicit encryption headers is automatically encrypted. This is a correct action.
E
Add a bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject if the object is not encrypted.
Why wrong: Option E is incorrect because the bucket policy denying unencrypted uploads is redundant when the SCP and default encryption are already in place. The combination of SCP (option A) and default encryption (option D) fully ensures all objects are encrypted, making option E unnecessary.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Use an SCP to deny the s3:PutObject action unless the request includes the x-amz-server-side-encryption header.

The correct combination is option A and D. Option A uses an SCP to deny s3:PutObject unless the request includes the x-amz-server-side-encryption header, which enforces encryption at upload time across the account. Option D enables default encryption on the S3 bucket using SSE-S3 or SSE-KMS, ensuring that any object uploaded without explicit encryption headers is automatically encrypted. Together, these actions guarantee that all objects in the bucket are encrypted at rest. Option B is incorrect because creating a KMS key and assigning it to the bucket does not automatically encrypt objects; additional configuration like default encryption is needed. Option C is incorrect because CloudTrail only logs API calls and does not enforce encryption. Option E is incorrect because while a bucket policy can deny unencrypted PutObject, it is not as effective as an SCP for organization-wide enforcement, and the combination of SCP and default encryption provides a more robust solution.

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 SCP to deny the s3:PutObject action unless the request includes the x-amz-server-side-encryption header.
Why this is correct
This action uses an SCP to deny s3:PutObject unless the request includes the x-amz-server-side-encryption header, enforcing encryption at upload time across the account. This is a correct action.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
Use AWS KMS to create a customer master key and assign it to the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
Creating a KMS key and assigning it to the bucket does not automatically encrypt objects; it only makes the key available. Default encryption or explicit headers are still required. This is not a sufficient action.
✗
Enable AWS CloudTrail to log S3 API calls.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail logs API calls but does not enforce encryption. It only provides audit capability. This is not an action that ensures encryption.
✓
Enable default encryption on the S3 bucket using SSE-S3 or SSE-KMS.
Why this is correct
Enabling default encryption on the S3 bucket using SSE-S3 or SSE-KMS ensures any object uploaded without explicit encryption headers is automatically encrypted. This is a correct action.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
Add a bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject if the object is not encrypted.
Why it's wrong here
Option E is incorrect because the bucket policy denying unencrypted uploads is redundant when the SCP and default encryption are already in place. The combination of SCP (option A) and default encryption (option D) fully ensures all objects are encrypted, making option E unnecessary.

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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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this SCS-C02 question test?

Infrastructure Security — This question tests Infrastructure Security — Standard ACLs match source addresses..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Use an SCP to deny the s3:PutObject action unless the request includes the x-amz-server-side-encryption header. — The correct combination is option A and D. Option A uses an SCP to deny s3:PutObject unless the request includes the x-amz-server-side-encryption header, which enforces encryption at upload time across the account. Option D enables default encryption on the S3 bucket using SSE-S3 or SSE-KMS, ensuring that any object uploaded without explicit encryption headers is automatically encrypted. Together, these actions guarantee that all objects in the bucket are encrypted at rest. Option B is incorrect because creating a KMS key and assigning it to the bucket does not automatically encrypt objects; additional configuration like default encryption is needed. Option C is incorrect because CloudTrail only logs API calls and does not enforce encryption. Option E is incorrect because while a bucket policy can deny unencrypted PutObject, it is not as effective as an SCP for organization-wide enforcement, and the combination of SCP and default encryption provides a more robust solution.

What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?

What is the key concept behind this question?

Standard ACLs match source addresses.

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