- A
Use SSE-S3 with default encryption.
Why wrong: SSE-S3 does not allow customer key management or audit.
- B
Use SSE-C and store the keys in AWS Secrets Manager.
Why wrong: SSE-C does not provide key usage logging.
- C
Use SSE-KMS with a customer-managed key and enable CloudTrail for KMS.
Customer-managed KMS keys provide audit via CloudTrail.
- D
Use AWS CloudHSM to generate and store keys, and use Amazon S3 with SSE-KMS.
Why wrong: CloudHSM does not directly integrate with S3 SSE; KMS is needed.
Question 444 of 1,748
SCS-C02 Data Protection Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of data protection. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 migrating sensitive data to Amazon S3. The data must be encrypted at rest using keys managed by the company. The company also requires an audit trail of key usage. Which solution meets these requirements?
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
✓
Use SSE-KMS with a customer-managed key and enable CloudTrail for KMS.
The correct answer is C: SSE-KMS with a customer-managed key and CloudTrail for KMS. This solution meets both requirements: the company manages its own keys (customer-managed CMK) and CloudTrail logs every KMS API call, providing an audit trail of key usage. Option A (SSE-S3) uses Amazon-managed keys, so no customer control or audit trail. Option B (SSE-C) requires the customer to manage keys themselves but does not integrate with CloudTrail for key usage auditing; also, storing keys in Secrets Manager does not provide an audit trail of KMS key usage. Option D (CloudHSM) can be used, but it requires more complex setup for auditing; SSE-KMS with CloudTrail is the simpler and more direct solution.
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.
- ✗
Use SSE-S3 with default encryption.
Why it's wrong here
SSE-S3 does not allow customer key management or audit.
- ✗
Use SSE-C and store the keys in AWS Secrets Manager.
Why it's wrong here
SSE-C does not provide key usage logging.
- ✓
Use SSE-KMS with a customer-managed key and enable CloudTrail for KMS.
Why this is correct
Customer-managed KMS keys provide audit via CloudTrail.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS CloudHSM to generate and store keys, and use Amazon S3 with SSE-KMS.
Why it's wrong here
CloudHSM does not directly integrate with S3 SSE; KMS is needed.
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 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.
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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Data Protection — study guide chapter
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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: Use SSE-KMS with a customer-managed key and enable CloudTrail for KMS. — The correct answer is C: SSE-KMS with a customer-managed key and CloudTrail for KMS. This solution meets both requirements: the company manages its own keys (customer-managed CMK) and CloudTrail logs every KMS API call, providing an audit trail of key usage. Option A (SSE-S3) uses Amazon-managed keys, so no customer control or audit trail. Option B (SSE-C) requires the customer to manage keys themselves but does not integrate with CloudTrail for key usage auditing; also, storing keys in Secrets Manager does not provide an audit trail of KMS key usage. Option D (CloudHSM) can be used, but it requires more complex setup for auditing; SSE-KMS with CloudTrail is the simpler and more direct solution.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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