- A
The CloudWatch Events rule's event pattern does not match the GuardDuty finding event structure.
The event pattern must specify 'source': ['aws.guardduty'] and 'detail-type': ['GuardDuty Finding'] to match.
- B
The GuardDuty detector is in a different region than the CloudWatch Events rule.
Why wrong: GuardDuty findings are regional; if the rule is in the same region, this is not an issue.
- C
The Lambda function invoked by CloudWatch Events does not have an IAM role assigned.
Why wrong: Lambda role is needed for execution, but CloudWatch Events can still trigger the function; the function would fail but the event rule would still match.
- D
VPC Flow Logs are not enabled.
Why wrong: GuardDuty uses multiple data sources including VPC Flow Logs, but findings can still be generated without them, and this does not affect event triggering.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the CloudWatch Events rule’s event pattern does not match the GuardDuty finding event structure. This is the most likely reason because GuardDuty publishes findings as custom events under the source `aws.guardduty` with a detail-type of `GuardDuty Finding`, and the EventBridge rule must explicitly filter for that source and detail-type in its event pattern; if the pattern is missing, misconfigured, or uses a different source like `aws.ec2`, the rule simply won’t trigger. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of how GuardDuty integrates with EventBridge—a common trap is assuming the rule needs a specific IAM role or that GuardDuty requires VPC Flow Logs to generate findings, but the real issue is almost always a mismatched event pattern. A quick memory tip: think of EventBridge as a bouncer—if your GuardDuty finding doesn’t have the right “ID” (source and detail-type) on its ticket, the bouncer won’t let it into the rule’s club.
SCS-C02 Security Logging and Monitoring Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security logging and monitoring. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 using Amazon GuardDuty to detect threats. The security team notices that GuardDuty findings are not triggering the intended automated response via a CloudWatch Events rule. What is the most likely reason?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
The CloudWatch Events rule's event pattern does not match the GuardDuty finding event structure.
Option D is correct because GuardDuty sends findings as custom events in the 'aws.guardduty' source; the CloudWatch Events rule must have an event pattern that matches this source and detail type. Option A is incorrect because GuardDuty does not require VPC Flow Logs to generate findings. Option B is incorrect because GuardDuty findings are generated in the region where GuardDuty is enabled; cross-region aggregation is not a common issue. Option C is incorrect because IAM roles are not required for CloudWatch Events to trigger a Lambda function; Lambda needs a role to execute, but that wouldn't prevent the event from triggering.
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.
- ✓
The CloudWatch Events rule's event pattern does not match the GuardDuty finding event structure.
Why this is correct
The event pattern must specify 'source': ['aws.guardduty'] and 'detail-type': ['GuardDuty Finding'] to match.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
The GuardDuty detector is in a different region than the CloudWatch Events rule.
Why it's wrong here
GuardDuty findings are regional; if the rule is in the same region, this is not an issue.
- ✗
The Lambda function invoked by CloudWatch Events does not have an IAM role assigned.
Why it's wrong here
Lambda role is needed for execution, but CloudWatch Events can still trigger the function; the function would fail but the event rule would still match.
- ✗
VPC Flow Logs are not enabled.
Why it's wrong here
GuardDuty uses multiple data sources including VPC Flow Logs, but findings can still be generated without them, and this does not affect event triggering.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
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: The CloudWatch Events rule's event pattern does not match the GuardDuty finding event structure. — Option D is correct because GuardDuty sends findings as custom events in the 'aws.guardduty' source; the CloudWatch Events rule must have an event pattern that matches this source and detail type. Option A is incorrect because GuardDuty does not require VPC Flow Logs to generate findings. Option B is incorrect because GuardDuty findings are generated in the region where GuardDuty is enabled; cross-region aggregation is not a common issue. Option C is incorrect because IAM roles are not required for CloudWatch Events to trigger a Lambda function; Lambda needs a role to execute, but that wouldn't prevent the event from triggering.
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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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