The answer is AWS CloudTrail because it is the only service that directly records all API calls made within your AWS account and can stream those events to CloudWatch Logs for near real-time analysis and automated response triggers. CloudTrail captures every management event, including who made the call, from which source IP, and what the response was, while CloudWatch Logs enables metric filters and alarm actions to detect suspicious patterns as they occur. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the distinction between logging services and detection services—a common trap is choosing GuardDuty, which analyzes existing logs but does not itself capture raw API calls for custom monitoring. Remember the memory tip: CloudTrail is the “trail” of API activity, while CloudWatch is the “watch” that alerts on it; together they give you near real-time visibility and response.
SCS-C02 Security Logging and Monitoring 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. 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 needs to monitor for suspicious API calls in near real-time and trigger an automated response. Which AWS service should be used to capture and analyze these API calls?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
AWS CloudTrail
Option B is correct because AWS CloudTrail records API calls and can deliver events to CloudWatch Logs for near real-time analysis. Option A is wrong because AWS Config monitors resource configurations, not API calls. Option C is wrong because Amazon GuardDuty is a threat detection service that uses various data sources, but it does not directly capture API calls for custom analysis. Option D is wrong because AWS CloudHSM is a hardware security module, not a logging service.
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.
✗
AWS CloudHSM
Why it's wrong here
AWS CloudHSM provides hardware security modules, not logging or monitoring of API calls.
✗
Amazon GuardDuty
Why it's wrong here
Amazon GuardDuty is a threat detection service that uses machine learning, but it does not directly capture all API calls.
✓
AWS CloudTrail
Why this is correct
AWS CloudTrail records API calls for audit and can be integrated with CloudWatch Logs for near real-time monitoring.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
AWS Config
Why it's wrong here
AWS Config monitors resource configuration changes, not API calls.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which SCS-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: AWS CloudTrail — Option B is correct because AWS CloudTrail records API calls and can deliver events to CloudWatch Logs for near real-time analysis. Option A is wrong because AWS Config monitors resource configurations, not API calls. Option C is wrong because Amazon GuardDuty is a threat detection service that uses various data sources, but it does not directly capture API calls for custom analysis. Option D is wrong because AWS CloudHSM is a hardware security module, not a logging service.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Identify which SCS-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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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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 security engineer is setting up monitoring for AWS API calls. Which TWO AWS services can be used to capture and analyze API activity?
easy
✓ A.Amazon CloudWatch Logs
B.AWS Config
C.Amazon Inspector
✓ D.AWS CloudTrail
E.Amazon GuardDuty
Why A: Amazon CloudWatch Logs can capture and analyze API activity by ingesting log data from various AWS services, including AWS CloudTrail. You can configure CloudWatch Logs to monitor API calls in real time, set up metric filters to detect specific patterns, and trigger alarms based on API activity. This makes it a valid service for capturing and analyzing API calls, especially when combined with CloudTrail for detailed event records.
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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.
Question Discussion
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