Quick Answer
The answer is Amazon S3 Server Access Logs and AWS CloudTrail with data events enabled. These two services are correct because they both capture detailed records of who accessed S3 objects, from which IP address, and at what time, but they do so through different mechanisms: S3 Server Access Logs provide object-level access logs delivered to a target bucket, while CloudTrail records API calls like GetObject, PutObject, and DeleteObject as data events. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of the distinction between management and data plane auditing—a common trap is choosing only CloudTrail without specifying data events, or confusing S3 access logs with CloudTrail’s management events. Remember the memory tip: “CloudTrail for API calls, Server Access Logs for object-level hits”—both are needed for a complete audit trail of data access patterns.
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of data protection. 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.
Which TWO AWS services can be used to monitor and audit data access patterns to Amazon S3 buckets? (Choose 2.)
AWS Config
Why wrong: Tracks configuration changes, not data access.
AWS CloudWatch
Why wrong: For monitoring metrics and logs, not direct audit of data access.
AWS CloudTrail
Logs S3 API calls.
Amazon S3 Server Access Logs
Logs access requests to S3.
AWS Trusted Advisor
Why wrong: Provides best practice checks, not audit logs.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
AWS CloudTrail
AWS CloudTrail is correct because it records API activity for Amazon S3, including data-level events such as GetObject, PutObject, and DeleteObject. By enabling data events on a trail, you can capture who accessed which object, from which IP address, and when, providing a complete audit trail for data access patterns.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
AWS Config
Why it's wrong here
Tracks configuration changes, not data access.
AWS CloudWatch
Why it's wrong here
For monitoring metrics and logs, not direct audit of data access.
AWS CloudTrail
Why this is correct
Logs S3 API calls.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Amazon S3 Server Access Logs
Why this is correct
Logs access requests to S3.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AWS Trusted Advisor
Why it's wrong here
Provides best practice checks, not audit logs.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse AWS Config (which checks configuration compliance) with CloudTrail (which records API activity), or they overlook that S3 Server Access Logs are a separate, native logging feature distinct from CloudTrail.
Detailed technical explanation
CloudTrail data events for S3 are logged as JSON records containing fields such as eventSource (s3.amazonaws.com), eventName (GetObject), requestParameters (bucketName, key), and sourceIPAddress. S3 Server Access Logs provide a different granularity—they log HTTP requests at the bucket level, including requester, bucket, key, HTTP status, and error codes, but they do not include IAM user ARN or source IP in the same structured way as CloudTrail. A real-world scenario: for compliance with frameworks like PCI DSS, you might enable both—CloudTrail for user identity and API-level auditing, and Server Access Logs for operational troubleshooting of request patterns.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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Data Protection — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Data Protection — This question tests Data Protection — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: AWS CloudTrail — AWS CloudTrail is correct because it records API activity for Amazon S3, including data-level events such as GetObject, PutObject, and DeleteObject. By enabling data events on a trail, you can capture who accessed which object, from which IP address, and when, providing a complete audit trail for data access patterns.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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