The answer is the AWS Config managed rule `s3-bucket-encryption-enabled`. This rule is correct because it directly evaluates whether each Amazon S3 bucket has default encryption enabled at rest, covering SSE-S3, SSE-KMS, or SSE-C configurations, and flags any bucket that lacks this setting as non-compliant. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this question tests your ability to map a security requirement—enforcing default encryption on all S3 buckets—to the appropriate Config rule, often appearing as a straightforward recall item. A common trap is confusing this rule with `s3-bucket-ssl-requests-only` (which checks for HTTPS) or `s3-bucket-public-read-prohibited` (which checks public access), so remember that encryption enforcement is specifically about the bucket’s default encryption settings. Memory tip: think “encrypt the bucket by default” → `s3-bucket-encryption-enabled`.
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.
An organization requires that all Amazon S3 buckets be encrypted at rest by default. A SysOps administrator needs to enforce this using AWS Config. Which AWS Config managed rule should be used?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
s3-bucket-encryption-enabled
The AWS Config managed rule `s3-bucket-encryption-enabled` checks whether S3 buckets have default encryption enabled (SSE-S3, SSE-KMS, or SSE-C). This directly enforces the requirement that all buckets are encrypted at rest by default, as it evaluates each bucket's encryption configuration and flags non-compliant resources.
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.
✓
s3-bucket-encryption-enabled
Why this is correct
Correct. This rule evaluates whether default encryption is configured on the bucket, meeting the requirement for encryption at rest.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
s3-bucket-ssl-requests-only
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This rule enforces encryption in transit (SSL/TLS), not encryption at rest.
✗
s3-bucket-public-read-prohibited
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This rule prevents public read access, unrelated to encryption.
✗
s3-bucket-logging-enabled
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. This rule checks if server access logging is enabled, not encryption.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse encryption in transit (SSL/TLS) with encryption at rest, leading them to select `s3-bucket-ssl-requests-only` instead of the correct rule for default encryption.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `s3-bucket-encryption-enabled` rule evaluates the `BucketEncryption` property of the S3 bucket, which is set via the `PUT Bucket encryption` API or the AWS Console. A common nuance is that this rule does not enforce encryption on objects uploaded before the default encryption was enabled; it only checks the bucket-level default encryption setting. In a real-world scenario, if an organization uses SSE-KMS, the rule also validates that the KMS key ID is specified, ensuring compliance with custom key policies.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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: s3-bucket-encryption-enabled — The AWS Config managed rule `s3-bucket-encryption-enabled` checks whether S3 buckets have default encryption enabled (SSE-S3, SSE-KMS, or SSE-C). This directly enforces the requirement that all buckets are encrypted at rest by default, as it evaluates each bucket's encryption configuration and flags non-compliant resources.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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