Quick Answer
The answer is AWS CloudTrail and S3 server access logs. CloudTrail meets the centralized logging requirement by delivering API activity logs from multiple AWS accounts into a single, centralized S3 bucket, while S3 server access logs provide detailed records of every request made to that bucket, fulfilling the need to log and monitor access to the logs themselves. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this pairing tests your understanding of how to combine a log source (CloudTrail) with an access logging mechanism (S3 server access logs) to satisfy both storage and auditing requirements, a common scenario in multi-account security architectures. A frequent trap is confusing S3 server access logs with CloudTrail’s own S3 data events—remember that server access logs are bucket-level HTTP request logs, not API event logs. Memory tip: “CloudTrail brings the logs in, server access logs watch the door.”
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security logging and monitoring. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 designing a centralized logging solution for multiple AWS accounts. The solution must meet the following requirements: 1) Logs from all accounts must be stored in a centralized S3 bucket. 2) The logs must be encrypted at rest using AWS KMS. 3) Access to the logs must be logged and monitored. Which TWO services should be used to meet the requirements? (Choose TWO.)
Amazon GuardDuty
Why wrong: GuardDuty provides threat detection, not centralized logging.
AWS CloudTrail
CloudTrail can deliver logs from multiple accounts to a centralized S3 bucket.
Amazon Macie
Why wrong: Macie discovers sensitive data, not centralized logging.
S3 server access logs
Server access logs record requests to the S3 bucket, providing access logging.
AWS Config
Why wrong: Config tracks resource configurations, not log delivery.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
AWS CloudTrail
Option B is correct because AWS CloudTrail can be configured to deliver logs from multiple accounts to a centralized S3 bucket. Option C is correct because S3 server access logs record requests made to the bucket, providing access logging. Option A is wrong because Amazon Macie is for sensitive data discovery, not centralizing logs. Option D is wrong because AWS Config tracks resource configurations, not log delivery. Option E is wrong because Amazon GuardDuty provides threat detection, not centralized logging.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Amazon GuardDuty
Why it's wrong here
GuardDuty provides threat detection, not centralized logging.
AWS CloudTrail
Why this is correct
CloudTrail can deliver logs from multiple accounts to a centralized S3 bucket.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Amazon Macie
Why it's wrong here
Macie discovers sensitive data, not centralized logging.
S3 server access logs
Why this is correct
Server access logs record requests to the S3 bucket, providing access logging.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
AWS Config
Why it's wrong here
Config tracks resource configurations, not log delivery.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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 — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Security Logging and Monitoring — This question tests Security Logging and Monitoring — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: AWS CloudTrail — Option B is correct because AWS CloudTrail can be configured to deliver logs from multiple accounts to a centralized S3 bucket. Option C is correct because S3 server access logs record requests made to the bucket, providing access logging. Option A is wrong because Amazon Macie is for sensitive data discovery, not centralizing logs. Option D is wrong because AWS Config tracks resource configurations, not log delivery. Option E is wrong because Amazon GuardDuty provides threat detection, not centralized logging.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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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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