- A
Enable EBS encryption by default using the AWS managed key for EBS.
AWS managed key for EBS is used when no custom key is specified.
- B
Use a customer managed KMS key.
You can specify a customer managed key when enabling EBS encryption.
- C
Use an encryption script on the EC2 instance to encrypt the volume.
Why wrong: That would be application-level encryption, not EBS encryption at rest.
- D
Use AWS CloudHSM to generate and store the encryption key.
Why wrong: EBS encryption uses KMS, not CloudHSM directly.
- E
Use S3 server-side encryption to encrypt the EBS snapshot.
Why wrong: EBS snapshots are encrypted using KMS, not S3 SSE.
Question 747 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.
Which TWO of the following are valid options for encrypting data at rest in Amazon EBS? (Choose two.)
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 EBS encryption by default using the AWS managed key for EBS.
Options A and B are correct. EBS encryption can be enabled using either the AWS managed key for EBS (option A) or a customer managed KMS key (option B). Option C is incorrect because EBS encryption is not performed by a script on the EC2 instance; it is handled by AWS KMS. Option D is incorrect because CloudHSM is not directly used for EBS encryption (though it can be used as a key source via KMS custom key stores, it is not a direct option for encrypting EBS volumes). Option E is incorrect because S3 server-side encryption applies to objects in S3, not to EBS snapshots; EBS snapshots can be encrypted using KMS keys.
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.
- ✓
Enable EBS encryption by default using the AWS managed key for EBS.
Why this is correct
AWS managed key for EBS is used when no custom key is specified.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Use a customer managed KMS key.
Why this is correct
You can specify a customer managed key when enabling EBS encryption.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use an encryption script on the EC2 instance to encrypt the volume.
Why it's wrong here
That would be application-level encryption, not EBS encryption at rest.
- ✗
Use AWS CloudHSM to generate and store the encryption key.
Why it's wrong here
EBS encryption uses KMS, not CloudHSM directly.
- ✗
Use S3 server-side encryption to encrypt the EBS snapshot.
Why it's wrong here
EBS snapshots are encrypted using KMS, not S3 SSE.
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.
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.
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.
- →
Data Protection — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Data Protection practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Data Protection — This question tests Data Protection — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable EBS encryption by default using the AWS managed key for EBS. — Options A and B are correct. EBS encryption can be enabled using either the AWS managed key for EBS (option A) or a customer managed KMS key (option B). Option C is incorrect because EBS encryption is not performed by a script on the EC2 instance; it is handled by AWS KMS. Option D is incorrect because CloudHSM is not directly used for EBS encryption (though it can be used as a key source via KMS custom key stores, it is not a direct option for encrypting EBS volumes). Option E is incorrect because S3 server-side encryption applies to objects in S3, not to EBS snapshots; EBS snapshots can be encrypted using KMS keys.
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 →
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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