The correct answer is to disable RDS audit logging or ensure that the query logs do not contain sensitive data. This is because when RDS query logs—such as the general log or slow query log—are enabled and streamed to Amazon CloudWatch Logs, any SQL queries sent to the database are recorded in plaintext. If the application decrypts credit card numbers using KMS and then passes those plaintext values in a SQL query (for example, in a WHERE clause or INSERT statement), the decrypted credit card numbers will be captured verbatim in those logs, even though the developers are not explicitly logging the values in application code. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the difference between application-level logging and database-level logging, and it’s a common trap to blame the application or encryption settings when the real leak is from RDS’s own diagnostic logs. A useful memory tip: “Queries leak plaintext—check the logs before you blame the app.”
SCS-C02 Data Protection Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of data protection. 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 runs a web application on Amazon EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer (ALB). The application processes credit card numbers and must comply with PCI DSS. The security team requires that all credit card numbers be encrypted at rest and in transit. The application stores the encrypted credit card numbers in Amazon RDS for MySQL. The RDS instance is encrypted at rest using AWS KMS. The application decrypts the credit card numbers after retrieval using a KMS key. The security team has noticed that some credit card numbers are being logged in plaintext in Amazon CloudWatch Logs by the application. The developers claim they are not logging the decrypted values. What is the MOST likely cause and solution?
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Disable RDS audit logging or ensure that the query logs do not contain sensitive data.
Option C is correct. If the RDS query logs (general logs or slow query logs) are enabled and sent to CloudWatch, they may contain the plaintext credit card numbers if the application sends the decrypted values in SQL queries. Disabling query logging or ensuring it does not contain sensitive data solves the problem. Option A is wrong because SSL/TLS encryption does not affect logging. Option B is wrong because application logging is not the issue; the logs are from RDS. Option D is wrong because KMS audit logs would not contain the plaintext data.
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.
✓
Disable RDS audit logging or ensure that the query logs do not contain sensitive data.
Why this is correct
RDS query logs may capture the plaintext data if it is sent in SQL statements.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use AWS KMS key policies to prevent the application from decrypting the credit card numbers.
Why it's wrong here
The application needs to decrypt the numbers for processing; this would break functionality.
✗
Modify the application code to encrypt the credit card numbers before logging.
Why it's wrong here
The application is not logging the decrypted numbers; the logs are coming from RDS.
✗
Enable SSL/TLS encryption for the connection between the application and RDS.
Why it's wrong here
Encrypting the connection does not prevent logging of data after decryption.
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.
Data Protection — This question tests Data Protection — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Disable RDS audit logging or ensure that the query logs do not contain sensitive data. — Option C is correct. If the RDS query logs (general logs or slow query logs) are enabled and sent to CloudWatch, they may contain the plaintext credit card numbers if the application sends the decrypted values in SQL queries. Disabling query logging or ensuring it does not contain sensitive data solves the problem. Option A is wrong because SSL/TLS encryption does not affect logging. Option B is wrong because application logging is not the issue; the logs are from RDS. Option D is wrong because KMS audit logs would not contain the plaintext data.
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.
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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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