- A
Enable S3 Object Lock with a retention period of one year; enable S3 server access logs; use a bucket policy with a condition that allows access only from authorized IAM roles or users.
Object Lock prevents deletion; server access logs record all requests; bucket policy with conditions restricts access.
- B
Enable S3 default encryption (SSE-S3) on the bucket; enable S3 server access logs; attach an IAM policy that allows only authorized users to access the bucket.
Why wrong: SSE-S3 does not prevent deletion; server access logs record requests but not unauthorized access attempts specifically; IAM policies alone may not restrict access if bucket policies are permissive.
- C
Enable MFA Delete on the bucket; enable CloudTrail log file validation; use bucket ACLs to restrict access.
Why wrong: MFA Delete prevents deletion but requires multi-factor authentication; CloudTrail log file validation ensures integrity but does not prevent deletion; ACLs are not recommended.
- D
Enable S3 Inventory to track objects; enable CloudTrail to log S3 API calls; use a bucket policy with a deny effect for unauthorized users.
Why wrong: Inventory does not prevent deletion; CloudTrail logs API calls but does not prevent deletion; deny policies can restrict access but Object Lock is more effective for preventing deletion.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to enable S3 Object Lock with a one-year retention period, enable S3 server access logs, and use a bucket policy with a condition that restricts access to authorized IAM roles or users. This combination works because S3 Object Lock enforces a write-once-read-many (WORM) model that prevents any deletion or overwrite of CloudTrail logs for the specified duration, while S3 server access logs provide detailed records of every request made to the bucket—including unauthorized access attempts—and the bucket policy with a condition key ensures that only specific IAM principals can interact with the logs. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of layered security controls: encryption alone (like SSE-S3) does not prevent deletion, and IAM policies are insufficient if the bucket policy is permissive. A common trap is confusing MFA Delete with Object Lock—MFA Delete requires physical token confirmation and does not enforce a time-based retention, whereas Object Lock directly meets the one-year requirement. Memory tip: think "LOCK, LOG, and LIMIT" for retention, auditing, and access control.
SCS-C02 Security Logging and Monitoring Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security logging and monitoring. 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 CloudTrail to log all API activity and delivers logs to an S3 bucket with server-side encryption (SSE-S3). The security team needs to ensure that only authorized personnel can access the logs and that any unauthorized access attempts are logged and alerted. Additionally, the team wants to prevent the logs from being deleted for at least one year. Which combination of actions should be taken?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"least"Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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 S3 Object Lock with a retention period of one year; enable S3 server access logs; use a bucket policy with a condition that allows access only from authorized IAM roles or users.
Option C is correct because enabling S3 Object Lock with a retention period prevents deletion, enabling S3 server access logs records all requests, and using bucket policies with conditions restricts access to authorized users. Option A is wrong because S3 default encryption (SSE-S3) does not prevent deletion; S3 server access logs record requests, not access attempts; and IAM policies alone are not sufficient to restrict access if bucket policies are permissive. Option B is wrong because MFA Delete prevents deletion but requires additional setup; CloudTrail logs already record API calls; bucket ACLs are not recommended for access control. Option D is wrong because S3 Inventory lists objects but does not prevent deletion; CloudWatch Logs can monitor but S3 Object Lock is more direct for preventing deletion.
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 S3 Object Lock with a retention period of one year; enable S3 server access logs; use a bucket policy with a condition that allows access only from authorized IAM roles or users.
Why this is correct
Object Lock prevents deletion; server access logs record all requests; bucket policy with conditions restricts access.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Enable S3 default encryption (SSE-S3) on the bucket; enable S3 server access logs; attach an IAM policy that allows only authorized users to access the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
SSE-S3 does not prevent deletion; server access logs record requests but not unauthorized access attempts specifically; IAM policies alone may not restrict access if bucket policies are permissive.
- ✗
Enable MFA Delete on the bucket; enable CloudTrail log file validation; use bucket ACLs to restrict access.
Why it's wrong here
MFA Delete prevents deletion but requires multi-factor authentication; CloudTrail log file validation ensures integrity but does not prevent deletion; ACLs are not recommended.
- ✗
Enable S3 Inventory to track objects; enable CloudTrail to log S3 API calls; use a bucket policy with a deny effect for unauthorized users.
Why it's wrong here
Inventory does not prevent deletion; CloudTrail logs API calls but does not prevent deletion; deny policies can restrict access but Object Lock is more effective for preventing deletion.
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 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.
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.
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Security Logging and Monitoring — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Security Logging and Monitoring — This question tests Security Logging and Monitoring — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable S3 Object Lock with a retention period of one year; enable S3 server access logs; use a bucket policy with a condition that allows access only from authorized IAM roles or users. — Option C is correct because enabling S3 Object Lock with a retention period prevents deletion, enabling S3 server access logs records all requests, and using bucket policies with conditions restricts access to authorized users. Option A is wrong because S3 default encryption (SSE-S3) does not prevent deletion; S3 server access logs record requests, not access attempts; and IAM policies alone are not sufficient to restrict access if bucket policies are permissive. Option B is wrong because MFA Delete prevents deletion but requires additional setup; CloudTrail logs already record API calls; bucket ACLs are not recommended for access control. Option D is wrong because S3 Inventory lists objects but does not prevent deletion; CloudWatch Logs can monitor but S3 Object Lock is more direct for preventing deletion.
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: "least". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
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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