The answer is to install and configure either the unified CloudWatch agent or the legacy CloudWatch Logs agent. Both agents are designed to collect application logs from an EC2 instance and forward them directly to CloudWatch Logs, where they can be monitored, searched, and alerted upon. The unified agent is the modern, recommended solution, supporting both metrics and logs with centralized configuration, while the older awslogs agent still works for log-only collection. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between logging services: a common trap is confusing CloudTrail (which records API activity) or S3 (a storage destination, not a direct sender) with the agents that actively push logs. Remember that CloudWatch agents live on the instance and push data out, whereas CloudTrail and VPC Flow Logs are pulled from separate sources. A simple memory tip: if it runs on the EC2 instance and sends logs, it’s an agent—unified or legacy.
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.
Which TWO actions are valid ways to send application logs from an EC2 instance to Amazon CloudWatch Logs? (Select TWO.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Install and configure the unified CloudWatch agent on the EC2 instance.
Options A and D are correct. Option A: The unified CloudWatch agent can collect logs and send to CloudWatch Logs. Option D: The older CloudWatch Logs agent (awslogs) can also send logs. Option B is wrong because CloudTrail is for API logging, not application logs. Option C is wrong because S3 does not directly send to CloudWatch Logs. Option E is wrong because VPC Flow Logs are for network traffic.
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.
✗
Configure the EC2 instance to stream syslog to AWS CloudTrail.
Write logs to an S3 bucket and use S3 event notifications to send to CloudWatch Logs.
Why it's wrong here
S3 does not directly send to CloudWatch Logs; Lambda could be used but not direct.
✓
Install and configure the unified CloudWatch agent on the EC2 instance.
Why this is correct
The unified agent can collect logs and metrics.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable VPC Flow Logs to capture application traffic.
Why it's wrong here
VPC Flow Logs capture network metadata, not application logs.
✓
Install and configure the legacy CloudWatch Logs agent.
Why this is correct
The legacy agent can also send logs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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.
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.
Security Logging and Monitoring — This question tests Security Logging and Monitoring — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Install and configure the unified CloudWatch agent on the EC2 instance. — Options A and D are correct. Option A: The unified CloudWatch agent can collect logs and send to CloudWatch Logs. Option D: The older CloudWatch Logs agent (awslogs) can also send logs. Option B is wrong because CloudTrail is for API logging, not application logs. Option C is wrong because S3 does not directly send to CloudWatch Logs. Option E is wrong because VPC Flow Logs are for network traffic.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.