Quick Answer
The answer is the `sourceIPAddress` field. This is correct because every CloudTrail event JSON record captures the originating IP address of the API caller in the `sourceIPAddress` key, regardless of whether the request came from the AWS Management Console, CLI, or SDK. For the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this question tests your ability to read CloudTrail logs during incident response—a core troubleshooting skill. A common trap is confusing `userIdentity` (which holds the ARN, user name, and account) with the network-level source IP; remember that `userIdentity` tells you *who* made the call, while `sourceIPAddress` tells you *where* it came from. When investigating unauthorized actions like creating a key pair, always check `sourceIPAddress` first to pinpoint the origin of the threat. Memory tip: think "Source IP = Source Location" to avoid mixing it up with user identity fields.
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 SysOps administrator is investigating a security incident where an unauthorized key pair was created. The CloudTrail lookup command output is shown. The administrator wants to find the source IP address of the 'admin' user who created the key pair. Which field in the 'CloudTrailEvent' JSON should the administrator examine?
requestParameters
Why wrong: Contains API parameters.
userIdentity
Why wrong: Contains user details, not IP.
sourceIPAddress
Contains the source IP of the request.
eventTime
Why wrong: Timestamp of the event.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
sourceIPAddress
Option B is correct because the source IP address is contained in the 'sourceIPAddress' field within the CloudTrail event JSON. Option A is wrong because 'userIdentity' contains information about the user, not the IP. Option C is wrong because 'eventTime' is the timestamp. Option D is wrong because 'requestParameters' contains the parameters of the API call, not the IP.
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.
requestParameters
Why it's wrong here
Contains API parameters.
userIdentity
Why it's wrong here
Contains user details, not IP.
sourceIPAddress
Why this is correct
Contains the source IP of the request.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
eventTime
Why it's wrong here
Timestamp of the event.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
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 — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Security and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: sourceIPAddress — Option B is correct because the source IP address is contained in the 'sourceIPAddress' field within the CloudTrail event JSON. Option A is wrong because 'userIdentity' contains information about the user, not the IP. Option C is wrong because 'eventTime' is the timestamp. Option D is wrong because 'requestParameters' contains the parameters of the API call, not the IP.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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.
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