- A
Enable server-side encryption using AWS KMS (SSE-KMS) on the S3 bucket.
SSE-KMS encrypts the logs at rest.
- B
Use S3 bucket ACLs to restrict access.
Why wrong: Bucket policies are more secure and recommended over ACLs.
- C
Enable CloudTrail log file validation.
Log file validation ensures the logs have not been tampered with.
- D
Enable S3 Versioning on the bucket.
Why wrong: Versioning helps recover deleted objects but does not prevent deletion.
- E
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for CloudTrail.
Why wrong: MFA is not a feature of CloudTrail itself.
Question 317 of 1,748
SCS-C02 Infrastructure Security Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of infrastructure security. 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.
A company is using AWS CloudTrail to log API calls. The security team wants to ensure that the logs are protected from unauthorized access and deletion. Which TWO actions should be taken?
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
✓
Enable server-side encryption using AWS KMS (SSE-KMS) on the S3 bucket.
Option A is correct because enabling server-side encryption using AWS KMS (SSE-KMS) on the S3 bucket that stores CloudTrail logs ensures that the log files are encrypted at rest, protecting them from unauthorized access. This encryption uses envelope encryption with a customer-managed or AWS-managed KMS key, providing an additional layer of access control via KMS key policies and IAM policies. Option C is correct because CloudTrail log file validation creates a signed digest file for each log file, allowing you to verify that the logs have not been tampered with, deleted, or modified after delivery. This uses SHA-256 hashing and digital signing with the private key of AWS, ensuring integrity and authenticity of the log files.
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.
- ✓
Enable server-side encryption using AWS KMS (SSE-KMS) on the S3 bucket.
Why this is correct
SSE-KMS encrypts the logs at rest.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use S3 bucket ACLs to restrict access.
Why it's wrong here
Bucket policies are more secure and recommended over ACLs.
- ✓
Enable CloudTrail log file validation.
Why this is correct
Log file validation ensures the logs have not been tampered with.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable S3 Versioning on the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
Versioning helps recover deleted objects but does not prevent deletion.
- ✗
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for CloudTrail.
Why it's wrong here
MFA is not a feature of CloudTrail itself.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'protecting logs from deletion' with 'preventing deletion' and incorrectly choose S3 Versioning (Option D) as a security control, when in fact versioning only helps recover from accidental deletion, not prevent malicious deletion by an authorized user.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, CloudTrail log file validation uses a digest file that contains a hash of the log file and the previous digest file, forming a chain of trust. The digest files are signed with AWS's private key, and you can verify them using the public key published in the AWS documentation. In a real-world scenario, if an attacker gains access to the S3 bucket and deletes or modifies a log file, the digest file validation will fail, alerting you to the tampering. Additionally, SSE-KMS with a customer-managed key allows you to enforce key rotation, audit key usage via CloudTrail, and revoke access to the logs by disabling the key, providing strong protection against unauthorized decryption.
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.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
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?
Infrastructure Security — This question tests Infrastructure Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable server-side encryption using AWS KMS (SSE-KMS) on the S3 bucket. — Option A is correct because enabling server-side encryption using AWS KMS (SSE-KMS) on the S3 bucket that stores CloudTrail logs ensures that the log files are encrypted at rest, protecting them from unauthorized access. This encryption uses envelope encryption with a customer-managed or AWS-managed KMS key, providing an additional layer of access control via KMS key policies and IAM policies. Option C is correct because CloudTrail log file validation creates a signed digest file for each log file, allowing you to verify that the logs have not been tampered with, deleted, or modified after delivery. This uses SHA-256 hashing and digital signing with the private key of AWS, ensuring integrity and authenticity of the log files.
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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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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