- A
VPC Flow Logs and Network ACL logs
Why wrong: VPC Flow Logs show network traffic but not commands; Network ACL logs do not exist.
- B
EC2 instance OS logs (e.g., /var/log/secure) and CloudTrail logs for API calls that launched the instance
OS logs show commands executed; CloudTrail shows who launched the instance.
- C
S3 server access logs and CloudWatch Logs
Why wrong: S3 logs are irrelevant; CloudWatch Logs may contain OS logs but not by default.
- D
AWS CloudTrail and AWS Config history
Why wrong: CloudTrail shows API calls but not commands; Config shows configuration changes.
Question 1,029 of 1,748
SCS-C02 Security Logging and Monitoring Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security logging and monitoring. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 security engineer is investigating a potential security incident involving an EC2 instance that was used to launch an outbound DDoS attack. The engineer needs to determine the source of the attack and the commands executed on the instance. Which logs should be analyzed?
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
✓
EC2 instance OS logs (e.g., /var/log/secure) and CloudTrail logs for API calls that launched the instance
Option B is correct because the EC2 instance's OS logs (e.g., /var/log/secure on Linux or Security Event Log on Windows) contain the exact commands executed and user authentication events, which are essential for identifying the source and actions of the attacker. CloudTrail logs for API calls that launched the instance provide the identity of the principal (IAM user/role), source IP, and the time the instance was created, linking the instance to the initiating entity. Together, these logs allow the engineer to trace both the operational commands on the instance and the administrative actions that created it.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
VPC Flow Logs and Network ACL logs
Why it's wrong here
VPC Flow Logs show network traffic but not commands; Network ACL logs do not exist.
- ✓
EC2 instance OS logs (e.g., /var/log/secure) and CloudTrail logs for API calls that launched the instance
Why this is correct
OS logs show commands executed; CloudTrail shows who launched the instance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
S3 server access logs and CloudWatch Logs
Why it's wrong here
S3 logs are irrelevant; CloudWatch Logs may contain OS logs but not by default.
- ✗
AWS CloudTrail and AWS Config history
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail shows API calls but not commands; Config shows configuration changes.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume VPC Flow Logs or CloudTrail alone are sufficient, but they fail to recognize that OS-level logs are required to see actual commands executed on the instance, which CloudTrail never captures.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
VPC Flow Logs show network traffic but not commands; Network ACL logs do not exist.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, /var/log/secure on Amazon Linux or /var/log/auth.log on Ubuntu records authentication attempts and sudo commands via the pam_unix and sudo modules, while bash_history (if enabled) captures shell commands. CloudTrail's 'RunInstances' event includes the userIdentity, sourceIPAddress, and requestParameters (e.g., instance type, AMI ID), which can be correlated with the instance ID to identify who launched it. In a real-world DDoS investigation, the attacker may have used stolen credentials to launch the instance, so CloudTrail reveals the IAM key used, while OS logs show the attacker's commands to install DDoS tools like 'slowloris' or 'hping3'.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Security Logging and Monitoring — This question tests Security Logging and Monitoring — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: EC2 instance OS logs (e.g., /var/log/secure) and CloudTrail logs for API calls that launched the instance — Option B is correct because the EC2 instance's OS logs (e.g., /var/log/secure on Linux or Security Event Log on Windows) contain the exact commands executed and user authentication events, which are essential for identifying the source and actions of the attacker. CloudTrail logs for API calls that launched the instance provide the identity of the principal (IAM user/role), source IP, and the time the instance was created, linking the instance to the initiating entity. Together, these logs allow the engineer to trace both the operational commands on the instance and the administrative actions that created it.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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