The correct combination is a CloudWatch Events rule that matches the CreateAccessKey API call and sends an SNS notification. This works because CloudTrail records all IAM API activity as events, and CloudWatch Events (now Amazon EventBridge) can filter for specific API calls like CreateAccessKey, then route that event to an SNS topic to trigger an alert. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of event-driven monitoring versus configuration-based tools—a common trap is confusing CloudWatch Events with AWS Config, which evaluates resource configurations, not API calls, or with CloudWatch Logs Insights, which is only a query tool. Remember that CloudTrail logs are the data source, CloudWatch Events is the filter and router, and SNS is the notification delivery mechanism. A useful memory tip: think of it as "Trail triggers the rule, rule triggers the topic, topic triggers the alert."
SOA-C02 Security and Compliance Practice Question
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 uses AWS CloudTrail to log API activity. The security team needs to be alerted when an IAM user creates a new access key. Which combination of services should the SysOps administrator use to meet this requirement?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
A CloudWatch Events rule that matches the CreateAccessKey API call and sends an SNS notification
Option C is correct because CloudWatch Events (now Amazon EventBridge) can match CloudTrail events (like CreateAccessKey) and trigger an SNS notification. Option A is wrong because S3 events are not triggered by CloudTrail logs. Option B is wrong because Config rules evaluate resource configurations, not API calls. Option D is wrong because CloudWatch Logs Insights is a query tool, not an alerting mechanism.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
CloudWatch Logs Insights query on CloudTrail logs with an alarm
Why it's wrong here
Logs Insights is for querying, not for real-time alerting.
✗
An AWS Config rule that checks for new access keys and sends an SNS notification
Why it's wrong here
Config rules are for configuration compliance, not real-time API call alerts.
✓
A CloudWatch Events rule that matches the CreateAccessKey API call and sends an SNS notification
Why this is correct
CloudWatch Events can filter CloudTrail events and trigger actions like SNS.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
S3 event notifications to an SNS topic
Why it's wrong here
S3 event notifications cannot directly process CloudTrail events.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SOA-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Security and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: A CloudWatch Events rule that matches the CreateAccessKey API call and sends an SNS notification — Option C is correct because CloudWatch Events (now Amazon EventBridge) can match CloudTrail events (like CreateAccessKey) and trigger an SNS notification. Option A is wrong because S3 events are not triggered by CloudTrail logs. Option B is wrong because Config rules evaluate resource configurations, not API calls. Option D is wrong because CloudWatch Logs Insights is a query tool, not an alerting mechanism.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SOA-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Question Discussion
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