← SOA-C02·Amazon Web Services

Question 550 of 1,546

Security and Compliance →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The correct answer is to create a service control policy (SCP) that denies the s3:CreateBucket action unless the request includes the x-amz-server-side-encryption header with a valid encryption algorithm. This works because SCPs operate at the AWS Organizations level, allowing you to centrally enforce S3 bucket encryption across all accounts by blocking any bucket creation that doesn’t meet the encryption requirement at the API call level. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of preventive controls versus detective controls—SCPs are preventive, while AWS Config is detective and only alerts after the fact. A common trap is choosing IAM roles, but roles are per-account and cannot enforce organization-wide policies. Remember the mnemonic: “SCP stops the sin before it begins,” contrasting with Config which catches it after.

SOA-C02 Security and Compliance Practice Question

This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. 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.

A company is using AWS Organizations with multiple accounts. The security team wants to ensure that all new S3 buckets created in any account have encryption enabled. Which approach should be used to enforce this policy?

Question 1hardmultiple choice

Full question →

A
Create a service control policy (SCP) that denies the s3:CreateBucket action unless the request includes the x-amz-server-side-encryption header with a valid encryption algorithm.
SCPs allow central governance over actions across accounts, and can enforce conditions on API calls.
B
Create an IAM role in each member account with a policy that denies s3:CreateBucket without encryption, and require all users to assume that role.
Why wrong: This approach is per-account and does not prevent actions by users with administrative privileges.
C
Use AWS Config managed rule 's3-bucket-server-side-encryption-enabled' to detect non-compliant buckets and automatically remediate.
Why wrong: Config rules are detective and can trigger remediation, but do not prevent the initial creation.
D
Enable AWS CloudTrail and create a CloudWatch Events rule that triggers a Lambda function to delete any bucket created without encryption.
Why wrong: This is reactive, not preventive, and may have a window of non-compliance.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Create a service control policy (SCP) that denies the s3:CreateBucket action unless the request includes the x-amz-server-side-encryption header with a valid encryption algorithm.

Option A is correct because SCPs can be applied to all accounts in the organization to deny creation of S3 buckets without encryption. Option B is wrong because IAM roles are per account and not centrally enforced. Option C is wrong because CloudTrail is for logging, not enforcement. Option D is wrong because Config rules detect non-compliance but do not prevent creation.

Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✓
Create a service control policy (SCP) that denies the s3:CreateBucket action unless the request includes the x-amz-server-side-encryption header with a valid encryption algorithm.
Why this is correct
SCPs allow central governance over actions across accounts, and can enforce conditions on API calls.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
Create an IAM role in each member account with a policy that denies s3:CreateBucket without encryption, and require all users to assume that role.
Why it's wrong here
This approach is per-account and does not prevent actions by users with administrative privileges.
✗
Use AWS Config managed rule 's3-bucket-server-side-encryption-enabled' to detect non-compliant buckets and automatically remediate.
Why it's wrong here
Config rules are detective and can trigger remediation, but do not prevent the initial creation.
✗
Enable AWS CloudTrail and create a CloudWatch Events rule that triggers a Lambda function to delete any bucket created without encryption.
Why it's wrong here
This is reactive, not preventive, and may have a window of non-compliance.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match

ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.

KKey Concepts to Remember

Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
The first matching ACL entry is used.
There is usually an implicit deny at the end.

TExam Day Tips

Check inbound versus outbound direction.
Read the ACL from top to bottom.
Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.

Key takeaway

ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.

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.

Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SOA-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.

Related SOA-C02 practice-question pages

Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.

Monitoring, Logging, and Remediation practice questions

Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to Monitoring, Logging, and Remediation.

Reliability and Business Continuity practice questions

Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to Reliability and Business Continuity.

Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation practice questions

Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation.

Security and Compliance practice questions

Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to Security and Compliance.

Networking and Content Delivery practice questions

Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to Networking and Content Delivery.

Cost and Performance Optimization practice questions

Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to Cost and Performance Optimization.

SOA-C02 fundamentals practice questions

Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to SOA-C02 fundamentals.

SOA-C02 scenario practice questions

Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to SOA-C02 scenario.

SOA-C02 troubleshooting practice questions

Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to SOA-C02 troubleshooting.

Practice this exam

Start a free SOA-C02 practice session

Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.

10 questions 20 questions 30 questions 50 questions Timed 30

SOA-C02 practice-test guide →Study guide →Browse all practice tests

FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this SOA-C02 question test?

Security and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — Standard ACLs match source addresses..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Create a service control policy (SCP) that denies the s3:CreateBucket action unless the request includes the x-amz-server-side-encryption header with a valid encryption algorithm. — Option A is correct because SCPs can be applied to all accounts in the organization to deny creation of S3 buckets without encryption. Option B is wrong because IAM roles are per account and not centrally enforced. Option C is wrong because CloudTrail is for logging, not enforcement. Option D is wrong because Config rules detect non-compliance but do not prevent creation.

What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?

What is the key concept behind this question?

Standard ACLs match source addresses.

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 →

How Courseiva writes practice questions · Editorial policy

Keep practising

Question Discussion

Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.

Loading comments…

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.