The answer is to look for `Invoke` events in CloudTrail from the Lambda service. This is correct because every Lambda function invocation is recorded as a CloudTrail `Invoke` event, which captures the source of the trigger—whether from an AWS service, the SDK, or the console—along with the identity and timestamp of the caller. By investigating Lambda function invocations with CloudTrail, the security team can pinpoint unexpected triggers, such as an unauthorized IAM role or an anomalous invocation pattern that suggests a compromise. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of CloudTrail’s ability to log API calls for serverless services; a common trap is to look for `UpdateFunctionConfiguration` or `CreateFunction` events instead, which only track changes, not executions. Remember the memory tip: “Invoke is the smoke” — if the function is running, the `Invoke` event is the first place to check.
SCS-C02 Threat Detection and Incident Response Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of threat detection and incident response. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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's AWS Lambda function that processes sensitive data is triggering unexpectedly. The security team wants to investigate using AWS CloudTrail. What should they look for?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
`Invoke` events in CloudTrail from the Lambda service.
Option C is correct because `Invoke` events in CloudTrail record every invocation of a Lambda function, including the source (e.g., AWS service, SDK, or console) and the identity that triggered it. By analyzing these events, the security team can identify unexpected triggers, such as unauthorized IAM users or roles invoking the function, or anomalous invocation patterns that indicate a potential security issue.
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.
✗
`UpdateFunctionConfiguration` events in CloudTrail from the Lambda service.
Why it's wrong here
Configuration changes are not invocations.
✗
`CreateFunction` events in CloudTrail from the Lambda service.
Why it's wrong here
`CreateFunction` is a management event for creation.
✓
`Invoke` events in CloudTrail from the Lambda service.
Why this is correct
Each invocation generates an `Invoke` event.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
`PutSubscriptionFilter` events in CloudTrail from CloudWatch Logs.
Why it's wrong here
These are for log subscription filters.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse configuration or creation events with invocation events, mistakenly thinking that `UpdateFunctionConfiguration` or `CreateFunction` would show who triggered the function, when in fact only `Invoke` events capture the actual execution requests.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CloudTrail `Invoke` events include the `requestParameters` field with the function ARN and `invocationType` (e.g., `RequestResponse`, `Event`, `DryRun`), and the `sourceIPAddress` and `userIdentity` fields for attribution. In a real-world scenario, if a Lambda function is triggered by an S3 bucket event, the `Invoke` event will show the S3 service as the `invokedBy` principal, helping investigators trace the root cause of unexpected invocations.
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 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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Threat Detection and Incident Response — This question tests Threat Detection and Incident Response — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: `Invoke` events in CloudTrail from the Lambda service. — Option C is correct because `Invoke` events in CloudTrail record every invocation of a Lambda function, including the source (e.g., AWS service, SDK, or console) and the identity that triggered it. By analyzing these events, the security team can identify unexpected triggers, such as unauthorized IAM users or roles invoking the function, or anomalous invocation patterns that indicate a potential security issue.
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.
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Question Discussion
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