- A
Enable encryption on the existing EBS volumes directly from the console
Why wrong: Wrong: You cannot enable encryption on an existing EBS volume.
- B
Create a new encrypted EBS volume, detach the unencrypted volume, and attach the new encrypted volume to the instance. Then copy data from a backup.
Correct: This minimizes downtime and achieves encryption.
- C
Stop the instance, create an encrypted snapshot of the unencrypted volume, restore a new encrypted volume from the snapshot, and start the instance
Why wrong: Wrong: Stopping the instance causes more downtime than detaching/attaching.
- D
Launch a new EC2 instance with an encrypted EBS volume, migrate the application to the new instance, and terminate the old instance
Why wrong: Wrong: This causes more downtime and complexity.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to create a new encrypted EBS volume, detach the unencrypted volume, and attach the new encrypted volume to the instance, then copy data from a backup. This approach works because EBS encryption is applied at the volume level and cannot be enabled on an existing volume; you must provision a new encrypted volume and swap it in. The detachment and attachment process takes only a few minutes, keeping downtime well under the 5-minute limit, unlike stopping the instance to create an encrypted snapshot, which would cause a full stop/start cycle. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of EBS encryption mechanics and the trade-off between minimal downtime and operational complexity—a common trap is assuming you can encrypt an existing volume in place. Remember the mnemonic: "Swap, don't stop" to quickly recall that attaching a pre-encrypted volume avoids instance downtime.
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 critical application on Amazon EC2 instances that store sensitive data on EBS volumes. The security team has enabled EBS encryption by default for the region. However, after a recent security audit, it was discovered that some EBS volumes are not encrypted. The team finds that these volumes were created before the default encryption setting was enabled. The company's security policy mandates that all EBS volumes must be encrypted at rest, and the process must minimize downtime. The application cannot tolerate more than 5 minutes of downtime. The EC2 instances are running production workloads. What should the security engineer do to remediate the unencrypted volumes?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
Create a new encrypted EBS volume, detach the unencrypted volume, and attach the new encrypted volume to the instance. Then copy data from a backup.
Option B is correct because it allows creating a new encrypted volume and attaching it to the instance without significant downtime (a few minutes for detachment/attachment). Option A is wrong because enabling encryption on an existing volume is not supported. Option C is wrong because stopping the instance and creating an encrypted snapshot/volume would cause more downtime (stop/start). Option D is wrong because migrating to a new instance would require additional setup and likely more downtime.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 encryption on the existing EBS volumes directly from the console
Why it's wrong here
Wrong: You cannot enable encryption on an existing EBS volume.
- ✓
Create a new encrypted EBS volume, detach the unencrypted volume, and attach the new encrypted volume to the instance. Then copy data from a backup.
Why this is correct
Correct: This minimizes downtime and achieves encryption.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Stop the instance, create an encrypted snapshot of the unencrypted volume, restore a new encrypted volume from the snapshot, and start the instance
Why it's wrong here
Wrong: Stopping the instance causes more downtime than detaching/attaching.
- ✗
Launch a new EC2 instance with an encrypted EBS volume, migrate the application to the new instance, and terminate the old instance
Why it's wrong here
Wrong: This causes more downtime and complexity.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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. NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated. 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.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SCS-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
- →
Data Protection — study guide chapter
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Data Protection practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Data Protection — This question tests Data Protection — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a new encrypted EBS volume, detach the unencrypted volume, and attach the new encrypted volume to the instance. Then copy data from a backup. — Option B is correct because it allows creating a new encrypted volume and attaching it to the instance without significant downtime (a few minutes for detachment/attachment). Option A is wrong because enabling encryption on an existing volume is not supported. Option C is wrong because stopping the instance and creating an encrypted snapshot/volume would cause more downtime (stop/start). Option D is wrong because migrating to a new instance would require additional setup and likely more downtime.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SCS-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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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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