This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. 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 has an S3 bucket that stores sensitive customer data. The security team requires that all objects in the bucket be encrypted at rest using AWS KMS. An administrator notices that some objects are not encrypted. What is the MOST efficient way to enforce encryption for future uploads?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Add a bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject unless the request includes the x-amz-server-side-encryption header set to aws:kms.
Option A is correct because a bucket policy that denies PutObject without the correct encryption header will enforce encryption for all uploads. Option B is wrong because S3 default encryption only applies if no encryption header is provided; it can be overridden. Option C is wrong because SCPs affect IAM permissions, not S3 bucket configurations. Option D is wrong because encryption is enforced per object upload, not after upload.
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.
✗
Use an SCP to require KMS encryption for all S3 actions.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs cannot enforce encryption on S3 bucket operations.
✗
Use AWS Config to detect unencrypted objects and automatically encrypt them.
Why it's wrong here
Config can detect but not prevent unencrypted uploads.
✓
Add a bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject unless the request includes the x-amz-server-side-encryption header set to aws:kms.
Why this is correct
Bucket policies can conditionally deny uploads without encryption.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable S3 default encryption on the bucket with KMS.
Why it's wrong here
Default encryption can be overridden by the uploader.
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 SOA-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 and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add a bucket policy that denies s3:PutObject unless the request includes the x-amz-server-side-encryption header set to aws:kms. — Option A is correct because a bucket policy that denies PutObject without the correct encryption header will enforce encryption for all uploads. Option B is wrong because S3 default encryption only applies if no encryption header is provided; it can be overridden. Option C is wrong because SCPs affect IAM permissions, not S3 bucket configurations. Option D is wrong because encryption is enforced per object upload, not after upload.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
Identify which SOA-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.
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This SOA-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 SOA-C02 exam.
Question Discussion
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