Quick Answer
The answer is Amazon GuardDuty analyzes AWS CloudTrail management events, VPC Flow Logs, and DNS logs for threat detection. These three data sources are ingested and continuously monitored using machine learning models and integrated threat intelligence to identify anomalous behavior, such as unauthorized API calls, port scanning, or DNS exfiltration attempts. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this concept tests your understanding of GuardDuty’s scope versus other services—a common trap is confusing GuardDuty with AWS Config, which evaluates resource compliance, or with Amazon Macie, which inspects S3 object content. Remember that GuardDuty works at the network and account activity layer, not on configuration rules or object-level data. To lock in the answer, use the mnemonic “CVD” for CloudTrail, VPC Flow Logs, and DNS—the three core feeds GuardDuty analyzes to detect threats without needing agent installation.
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 THREE are features of Amazon GuardDuty that help with threat detection? (Select THREE.)
Analyzes AWS Config configuration history.
Why wrong: Config history is not used by GuardDuty.
Analyzes S3 object content for malware.
Why wrong: GuardDuty does not scan object content; it analyzes S3 data events.
Analyzes VPC Flow Logs.
GuardDuty uses VPC Flow Logs for network analysis.
Analyzes DNS query logs.
GuardDuty uses DNS logs from Route 53 Resolver.
Analyzes AWS CloudTrail management events.
GuardDuty consumes CloudTrail events.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Analyzes VPC Flow Logs.
Options A, B, and D are correct. GuardDuty uses machine learning and threat intelligence to detect threats. It analyzes CloudTrail events, VPC Flow Logs, and DNS logs. Option C is wrong because GuardDuty does not analyze Config rules; that is AWS Config. Option E is wrong because GuardDuty does not inspect S3 object content; it analyzes S3 data events.
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.
Analyzes AWS Config configuration history.
Why it's wrong here
Config history is not used by GuardDuty.
Analyzes S3 object content for malware.
Why it's wrong here
GuardDuty does not scan object content; it analyzes S3 data events.
Analyzes VPC Flow Logs.
Why this is correct
GuardDuty uses VPC Flow Logs for network analysis.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Analyzes DNS query logs.
Why this is correct
GuardDuty uses DNS logs from Route 53 Resolver.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Analyzes AWS CloudTrail management events.
Why this is correct
GuardDuty consumes CloudTrail events.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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: Analyzes VPC Flow Logs. — Options A, B, and D are correct. GuardDuty uses machine learning and threat intelligence to detect threats. It analyzes CloudTrail events, VPC Flow Logs, and DNS logs. Option C is wrong because GuardDuty does not analyze Config rules; that is AWS Config. Option E is wrong because GuardDuty does not inspect S3 object content; it analyzes S3 data events.
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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