- A
The EC2 instance is in a VPC that has a VPC endpoint for CloudTrail, but the endpoint policy denies logging.
Why wrong: Incorrect. There is no VPC endpoint for CloudTrail. CloudTrail uses public endpoints. VPC endpoint policies apply to other services.
- B
CloudTrail is not logging read-only API calls by default; the trail must be configured to log read events.
Correct. If the CloudTrail trail is configured to log only write events, read-only API calls will not appear in the logs, which could explain the missing entries.
- C
CloudTrail trail is not configured to log data events for EC2.
Why wrong: Incorrect. CloudTrail data events are only for S3 and Lambda, not for EC2. EC2 actions are management events.
- D
The IAM role used by the EC2 instance has a permissions boundary that excludes cloudtrail:PutLogEvents.
Why wrong: Incorrect. CloudTrail logs API calls regardless of the caller's IAM permissions. A permissions boundary does not affect CloudTrail logging, and `cloudtrail:PutLogEvents` is not a standard action.
SCS-C02 CloudTrail Management Events Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security logging and monitoring. 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. A key principle to apply: cloudTrail Management Events. 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 AWS CloudTrail to log all API calls. The security team notices that some expected log entries are missing for actions performed by an IAM role assumed by an EC2 instance. The instance has the required permissions. What is the MOST likely cause of the missing log entries?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
CloudTrail is not logging read-only API calls by default; the trail must be configured to log read events.
CloudTrail logs management events by default, but the trail can be configured to log only write events or only read events. If the trail is set to log only write events, read-only API calls (such as Describe* or Get* actions) made by the IAM role will not be recorded. Since the missing log entries are likely read operations, the lack of read event logging would result in missing entries. Option B correctly identifies this scenario.
Key principle: CloudTrail Management Events
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The EC2 instance is in a VPC that has a VPC endpoint for CloudTrail, but the endpoint policy denies logging.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. There is no VPC endpoint for CloudTrail. CloudTrail uses public endpoints. VPC endpoint policies apply to other services.
- ✓
CloudTrail is not logging read-only API calls by default; the trail must be configured to log read events.
Why this is correct
Correct. If the CloudTrail trail is configured to log only write events, read-only API calls will not appear in the logs, which could explain the missing entries.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
CloudTrail Management Events
- ✗
CloudTrail trail is not configured to log data events for EC2.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. CloudTrail data events are only for S3 and Lambda, not for EC2. EC2 actions are management events.
- ✗
The IAM role used by the EC2 instance has a permissions boundary that excludes cloudtrail:PutLogEvents.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. CloudTrail logs API calls regardless of the caller's IAM permissions. A permissions boundary does not affect CloudTrail logging, and `cloudtrail:PutLogEvents` is not a standard action.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap is to assume that missing logs are due to IAM permissions boundaries, when in fact CloudTrail logs all API calls regardless of the caller's permissions. Instead, the issue is often a misconfiguration of the trail's logging scope (e.g., read events not logged).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CloudTrail relies on the IAM role's ability to call `cloudtrail:PutLogEvents` to deliver log records to the trail's S3 bucket. Permissions boundaries act as an IAM policy that limits the maximum permissions a role can have; if the boundary denies `cloudtrail:PutLogEvents`, the role cannot write logs even if an attached policy grants it. This is a common misconfiguration when roles are created with restrictive boundaries for security, inadvertently blocking CloudTrail logging.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CloudTrail Management Events
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
CloudTrail Management Events
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review cloudTrail Management Events, then practise related SCS-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
- →
Security Logging and Monitoring — study guide chapter
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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 — CloudTrail Management Events.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: CloudTrail is not logging read-only API calls by default; the trail must be configured to log read events. — CloudTrail logs management events by default, but the trail can be configured to log only write events or only read events. If the trail is set to log only write events, read-only API calls (such as Describe* or Get* actions) made by the IAM role will not be recorded. Since the missing log entries are likely read operations, the lack of read event logging would result in missing entries. Option B correctly identifies this scenario.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review cloudTrail Management Events, 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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CloudTrail Management Events
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This SCS-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SCS-C02 exam.
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