- A
The bucket does not allow unencrypted objects.
Why wrong: Default encryption does not prevent uploads without encryption headers; it only applies if no header is provided.
- B
The bucket has default encryption enabled using SSE-KMS.
Why wrong: SSE-KMS would show aws:kms, not AES256.
- C
The bucket requires all objects to be encrypted with SSE-KMS.
Why wrong: The default is SSE-S3; SSE-KMS is not required.
- D
The bucket has default encryption enabled using SSE-S3.
AES256 indicates SSE-S3.
SCS-C02 Data Protection Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of data protection. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. A security engineer runs the command shown and gets the output. What does this output indicate about the bucket's encryption configuration?
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
The bucket has default encryption enabled using SSE-S3.
The output shows default encryption is set to SSE-S3 (AES256). This means new objects will be encrypted with SSE-S3 unless a different encryption header is provided. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because it's SSE-S3, not SSE-KMS. Option C is wrong because default encryption does not prevent client-side encryption. Option D is wrong because the bucket does not enforce SSE-KMS.
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.
- ✗
The bucket does not allow unencrypted objects.
Why it's wrong here
Default encryption does not prevent uploads without encryption headers; it only applies if no header is provided.
- ✗
The bucket has default encryption enabled using SSE-KMS.
Why it's wrong here
SSE-KMS would show aws:kms, not AES256.
- ✗
The bucket requires all objects to be encrypted with SSE-KMS.
Why it's wrong here
The default is SSE-S3; SSE-KMS is not required.
- ✓
The bucket has default encryption enabled using SSE-S3.
Why this is correct
AES256 indicates SSE-S3.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
SSE-KMS would show aws:kms, not AES256.
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 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
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
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: The bucket has default encryption enabled using SSE-S3. — The output shows default encryption is set to SSE-S3 (AES256). This means new objects will be encrypted with SSE-S3 unless a different encryption header is provided. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because it's SSE-S3, not SSE-KMS. Option C is wrong because default encryption does not prevent client-side encryption. Option D is wrong because the bucket does not enforce SSE-KMS.
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
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 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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