- A
Enable default encryption on the bucket with SSE-S3 or SSE-KMS.
Default encryption encrypts objects automatically.
- B
Add a bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject unless the request includes the x-amz-server-side-encryption header.
This blocks unencrypted uploads.
- C
Enable S3 Object Lock.
Why wrong: Object Lock prevents deletion/modification, not encryption.
- D
Enable S3 Transfer Acceleration.
Why wrong: Transfer Acceleration does not provide encryption.
- E
Enable S3 Block Public Access.
Why wrong: S3 Block Public Access prevents public exposure but does not enforce encryption at rest or block unencrypted uploads. It is not a step to meet the encryption requirements.
Question 29 of 1,748
SCS-C02 S3 Default Encryption Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of data protection. 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. A key principle to apply: s3 Default Encryption. 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 designing a data protection strategy for Amazon S3. The compliance team requires that all objects be encrypted at rest and that any attempt to upload an unencrypted object be blocked. Which THREE steps should the company take? (Choose THREE.)
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 default encryption on the bucket with SSE-S3 or SSE-KMS.
Options A and B are correct. Enabling default encryption (A) ensures all objects are encrypted at rest. Adding a bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject unless the x-amz-server-side-encryption header is present (B) blocks unencrypted uploads. Option E is incorrect because S3 Block Public Access does not enforce encryption at rest; it only prevents public access to buckets and objects. Options C and D are also incorrect: S3 Object Lock does not enforce encryption, and S3 Transfer Acceleration does not encrypt data.
Key principle: S3 Default Encryption
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 default encryption on the bucket with SSE-S3 or SSE-KMS.
Why this is correct
Default encryption encrypts objects automatically.
Related concept
S3 Default Encryption
- ✓
Add a bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject unless the request includes the x-amz-server-side-encryption header.
Why this is correct
This blocks unencrypted uploads.
Related concept
S3 Default Encryption
- ✗
Enable S3 Object Lock.
Why it's wrong here
Object Lock prevents deletion/modification, not encryption.
- ✗
Enable S3 Transfer Acceleration.
Why it's wrong here
Transfer Acceleration does not provide encryption.
- ✗
Enable S3 Block Public Access.
Why it's wrong here
S3 Block Public Access prevents public exposure but does not enforce encryption at rest or block unencrypted uploads. It is not a step to meet the encryption requirements.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that S3 Block Public Access is a security control but does not address encryption requirements. Candidates may mistakenly include it as a data protection measure for encryption.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- S3 Default Encryption
- Bucket Policy for Encryption Enforcement
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
S3 Default Encryption
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.
Review s3 Default Encryption, then practise related SCS-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
- →
Data Protection — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
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 — S3 Default Encryption.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable default encryption on the bucket with SSE-S3 or SSE-KMS. — Options A and B are correct. Enabling default encryption (A) ensures all objects are encrypted at rest. Adding a bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject unless the x-amz-server-side-encryption header is present (B) blocks unencrypted uploads. Option E is incorrect because S3 Block Public Access does not enforce encryption at rest; it only prevents public access to buckets and objects. Options C and D are also incorrect: S3 Object Lock does not enforce encryption, and S3 Transfer Acceleration does not encrypt data.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review s3 Default Encryption, then practise related SCS-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
S3 Default Encryption
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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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