This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. 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 uses AWS Organizations to manage multiple accounts. The security team wants to enforce that all S3 buckets in the organization have server-side encryption enabled. What is the MOST efficient way to achieve this?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Attach a service control policy (SCP) that denies s3:PutBucketEncryption and s3:CreateBucket actions unless encryption is specified.
Option B is correct because SCPs can be applied to the root OU or specific accounts to deny actions that create or modify S3 buckets without encryption. Option A is wrong because service control policies only prevent actions; they don't automatically enable encryption. Option C is wrong because Config rules can detect non-compliant buckets but cannot enforce encryption automatically. Option D is wrong because bucket policies are per-bucket and cannot be applied globally across all accounts.
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.
✓
Attach a service control policy (SCP) that denies s3:PutBucketEncryption and s3:CreateBucket actions unless encryption is specified.
Why this is correct
SCPs can deny actions that do not include encryption parameters, enforcing encryption across all accounts.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
Use AWS Trusted Advisor to check for unencrypted buckets and notify the account owners.
Why it's wrong here
Trusted Advisor only provides recommendations, not enforcement.
✗
Use AWS Config rules to automatically remediate non-compliant buckets.
Why it's wrong here
Config rules can detect but not enforce encryption across all accounts automatically.
✗
Apply a bucket policy to each bucket requiring server-side encryption for all uploads.
Why it's wrong here
Bucket policies are per-bucket and cannot be applied globally across the organization.
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.
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: Attach a service control policy (SCP) that denies s3:PutBucketEncryption and s3:CreateBucket actions unless encryption is specified. — Option B is correct because SCPs can be applied to the root OU or specific accounts to deny actions that create or modify S3 buckets without encryption. Option A is wrong because service control policies only prevent actions; they don't automatically enable encryption. Option C is wrong because Config rules can detect non-compliant buckets but cannot enforce encryption automatically. Option D is wrong because bucket policies are per-bucket and cannot be applied globally across all accounts.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Question Discussion
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