- A
Use a bucket policy on each bucket to enforce encryption
Why wrong: Bucket policies are applied per bucket, not preventive at creation.
- B
Use a service control policy (SCP) to deny creation of buckets without default encryption
SCPs can enforce rules across all accounts in the organization.
- C
Use an IAM policy to require encryption on all bucket creation actions
Why wrong: IAM policies apply only to individual users/roles, not all accounts.
- D
Use AWS Config rules to automatically enable encryption on new buckets
Why wrong: Config is detective, not preventive.
Question 1,479 of 1,748
SCS-C02 Data Protection 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. 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 uses AWS Organizations and wants to enforce that all S3 buckets created in any account within the organization have default encryption enabled. Which policy should be used?
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 a service control policy (SCP) to deny creation of buckets without default encryption
Option B (SCP) is correct because a service control policy can be applied to all accounts in an AWS Organization to deny the creation of S3 buckets without default encryption, providing a preventive control. Option A is incorrect because bucket policies are applied per bucket and are not preventive during creation. Option C is incorrect because IAM policies are account-specific and do not cover all accounts in the organization. Option D is incorrect because AWS Config rules are detective, not preventive; they can trigger remediation but do not prevent creation.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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 a bucket policy on each bucket to enforce encryption
Why it's wrong here
Bucket policies are applied per bucket, not preventive at creation.
- ✓
Use a service control policy (SCP) to deny creation of buckets without default encryption
Why this is correct
SCPs can enforce rules across all accounts in the organization.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- ✗
Use an IAM policy to require encryption on all bucket creation actions
Why it's wrong here
IAM policies apply only to individual users/roles, not all accounts.
- ✗
Use AWS Config rules to automatically enable encryption on new buckets
Why it's wrong here
Config is detective, not preventive.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
- The first matching ACL entry is used.
- There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
- Check inbound versus outbound direction.
- Read the ACL from top to bottom.
- Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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 ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SCS-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
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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 — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a service control policy (SCP) to deny creation of buckets without default encryption — Option B (SCP) is correct because a service control policy can be applied to all accounts in an AWS Organization to deny the creation of S3 buckets without default encryption, providing a preventive control. Option A is incorrect because bucket policies are applied per bucket and are not preventive during creation. Option C is incorrect because IAM policies are account-specific and do not cover all accounts in the organization. Option D is incorrect because AWS Config rules are detective, not preventive; they can trigger remediation but do not prevent creation.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SCS-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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