- A
Create an AWS Lambda function that is triggered by S3 event notifications to enable encryption on any new bucket.
Why wrong: This is reactive and requires additional permissions; also event notifications are not generated for bucket creation.
- B
Set a default bucket encryption policy in each account’s S3 console.
Why wrong: This must be done per account and does not enforce compliance across the organization.
- C
Apply an SCP to the root organizational unit that denies s3:CreateBucket if the bucket lacks encryption settings.
SCPs can deny actions with conditions, preventing noncompliant bucket creation across all accounts.
- D
Use AWS Config with a managed rule s3-bucket-server-side-encryption-enabled to trigger remediation.
Why wrong: This detects noncompliant buckets but does not prevent creation; remediation is reactive.
Quick Answer
The answer is to apply an SCP to the root organizational unit that denies s3:CreateBucket if the bucket lacks encryption settings. This is the most operationally efficient solution because it proactively prevents noncompliant buckets from being created at the source, using AWS Organizations to enforce encryption requirements across all accounts without relying on post-creation detection or remediation. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of preventive versus detective controls, with SCPs serving as a guardrail at the organization level—a common trap is choosing a reactive Lambda or AWS Config rule, which only catches violations after the fact. Remember the key distinction: SCPs block the action before it happens, while other options merely report or fix it later. A useful memory tip is “SCP stops the bucket before it drops,” reinforcing that the policy denies the creation request upfront.
SCS-C02 Management and Security Governance Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of management and security governance. 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 is using AWS Organizations to manage multiple accounts. The security team needs to enforce that all newly created S3 buckets across the organization have server-side encryption (SSE-S3) enabled by default. Which solution is MOST operationally efficient?
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
Apply an SCP to the root organizational unit that denies s3:CreateBucket if the bucket lacks encryption settings.
Using an SCP to deny creation of buckets without encryption is the most efficient because it prevents noncompliant buckets from being created at the root level. Option A (Lambda on CloudTrail) is reactive and less efficient. Option C (AWS Config rule) only detects noncompliant buckets after creation. Option D (IAM permissions) does not block at the organization level.
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.
- ✗
Create an AWS Lambda function that is triggered by S3 event notifications to enable encryption on any new bucket.
Why it's wrong here
This is reactive and requires additional permissions; also event notifications are not generated for bucket creation.
- ✗
Set a default bucket encryption policy in each account’s S3 console.
Why it's wrong here
This must be done per account and does not enforce compliance across the organization.
- ✓
Apply an SCP to the root organizational unit that denies s3:CreateBucket if the bucket lacks encryption settings.
Why this is correct
SCPs can deny actions with conditions, preventing noncompliant bucket creation across all accounts.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- ✗
Use AWS Config with a managed rule s3-bucket-server-side-encryption-enabled to trigger remediation.
Why it's wrong here
This detects noncompliant buckets but does not prevent creation; remediation is reactive.
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.
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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Management and Security Governance — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Management and Security Governance — This question tests Management and Security Governance — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Apply an SCP to the root organizational unit that denies s3:CreateBucket if the bucket lacks encryption settings. — Using an SCP to deny creation of buckets without encryption is the most efficient because it prevents noncompliant buckets from being created at the root level. Option A (Lambda on CloudTrail) is reactive and less efficient. Option C (AWS Config rule) only detects noncompliant buckets after creation. Option D (IAM permissions) does not block at the organization level.
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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Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on SCS-C02
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company uses AWS Organizations with multiple accounts and wants to ensure that all newly created S3 buckets have encryption enabled. The Security team needs a solution that automatically remediates non-compliant buckets without manual intervention. What should they do?
medium- ✓ A.Apply a service control policy (SCP) that denies the s3:PutBucketPublicAccessBlock and s3:PutBucketEncryption actions unless the bucket has encryption enabled.
- B.Use an S3 bucket policy that denies PutObject unless the request includes the x-amz-server-side-encryption header.
- C.Enable AWS Config with the s3-bucket-server-side-encryption-enabled rule and set up automatic remediation using Systems Manager Automation.
- D.Create an IAM role with permissions to enforce encryption and attach it to all accounts in the organization.
Why A: Option A is correct because a service control policy (SCP) that denies the s3:PutBucketEncryption action unless the bucket already has encryption enabled effectively prevents creation of unencrypted buckets. SCPs operate at the AWS Organizations level and apply to all accounts, ensuring that any attempt to create or modify a bucket without encryption is denied, providing automated, organization-wide governance without manual intervention.
Variation 2. A company has an AWS environment with multiple accounts managed under AWS Organizations. The security team wants to enforce that all newly created S3 buckets in any account have encryption enabled by default. Which approach should the security team take?
medium- A.Use AWS Config rules to detect unencrypted buckets and send alerts.
- B.Enable S3 default encryption in each account's S3 settings.
- C.Apply an IAM policy to the root user of each account to enforce bucket encryption.
- ✓ D.Create a Service Control Policy (SCP) that denies the creation of S3 buckets without encryption.
Why D: Option C is correct because SCPs can be applied to all accounts in the organization to deny the creation of S3 buckets without encryption. Option A is wrong because S3 default encryption is a bucket-level setting, not an organization-wide enforcement. Option B is wrong because AWS Config rules are reactive, not preventive. Option D is wrong because IAM policies are account-specific and cannot be centrally enforced across all accounts.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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