- A
Encrypt the CloudWatch Logs log group using an AWS KMS customer managed key.
KMS encryption on the log group encrypts log data at rest.
- B
Enable server-side encryption with S3-managed keys (SSE-S3) on the CloudWatch Logs log group.
Why wrong: CloudWatch Logs does not use S3 SSE; encryption is configured at the log group level with KMS.
- C
Apply an S3 bucket policy that requires encryption for objects uploaded to the bucket.
Why wrong: Logs are not stored directly in S3; CloudWatch Logs uses its own storage.
- D
Configure the CloudWatch Logs agent to use TLS/SSL for log delivery.
TLS encrypts data in transit from the instance to CloudWatch Logs.
- E
Install an AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) certificate on the EC2 instances.
Why wrong: ACM certificates are for securing web traffic, not for CloudWatch Logs agent communication.
Quick Answer
The correct actions are to configure the CloudWatch Logs agent to use TLS/SSL for log delivery and to associate an AWS KMS customer managed key with the log group. This is because encrypting CloudWatch Logs at rest and in transit requires two distinct mechanisms: KMS handles server-side encryption for stored log data by attaching a key to the log group, while TLS/SSL secures the data as it travels from EC2 instances to the CloudWatch service over port 443. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding that encryption is a layered responsibility—KMS for storage, TLS for transport—and a common trap is confusing default SSE-S3 encryption with the explicit KMS key association needed for CloudWatch Logs. Remember the memory tip: “KMS for the chest, TLS for the journey.”
SOA-C02 Monitoring, Logging, and Remediation Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring, logging, and remediation. 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 is using Amazon CloudWatch Logs to centralize logs from multiple EC2 instances. The SysOps administrator needs to ensure that log data is encrypted at rest and in transit. Which TWO actions should the administrator take? (Choose TWO.)
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
Encrypt the CloudWatch Logs log group using an AWS KMS customer managed key.
Option A is correct because CloudWatch Logs supports encryption at rest using AWS KMS customer managed keys (CMKs). By associating a KMS key with a log group, all log data stored in that log group is encrypted at rest, meeting the encryption-at-rest requirement. Option D is correct because the CloudWatch Logs agent can be configured to use TLS/SSL (port 443) for log delivery, ensuring encryption in transit between the EC2 instances and CloudWatch Logs.
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.
- ✓
Encrypt the CloudWatch Logs log group using an AWS KMS customer managed key.
Why this is correct
KMS encryption on the log group encrypts log data at rest.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable server-side encryption with S3-managed keys (SSE-S3) on the CloudWatch Logs log group.
Why it's wrong here
CloudWatch Logs does not use S3 SSE; encryption is configured at the log group level with KMS.
- ✗
Apply an S3 bucket policy that requires encryption for objects uploaded to the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
Logs are not stored directly in S3; CloudWatch Logs uses its own storage.
- ✓
Configure the CloudWatch Logs agent to use TLS/SSL for log delivery.
Why this is correct
TLS encrypts data in transit from the instance to CloudWatch Logs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Install an AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) certificate on the EC2 instances.
Why it's wrong here
ACM certificates are for securing web traffic, not for CloudWatch Logs agent communication.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse CloudWatch Logs encryption with S3 server-side encryption options (SSE-S3 or SSE-KMS) or assume that ACM certificates are needed for agent-to-service encryption, when in fact the CloudWatch Logs agent uses AWS SDK-managed TLS automatically.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When using a KMS customer managed key for CloudWatch Logs, the key must have a specific key policy that grants the CloudWatch Logs service principal (logs.amazonaws.com) permissions to use the key for encryption and decryption. For in-transit encryption, the CloudWatch Logs agent uses the AWS SDK to send logs over HTTPS (TLS 1.2+), and the agent configuration file (awslogs.conf) can enforce TLS by setting `use_https = true` (default). A common real-world scenario is compliance with PCI DSS or HIPAA, where both at-rest and in-transit encryption are mandatory for log data.
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.
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Monitoring, Logging, and Remediation — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SOA-C02 question test?
Monitoring, Logging, and Remediation — This question tests Monitoring, Logging, and Remediation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Encrypt the CloudWatch Logs log group using an AWS KMS customer managed key. — Option A is correct because CloudWatch Logs supports encryption at rest using AWS KMS customer managed keys (CMKs). By associating a KMS key with a log group, all log data stored in that log group is encrypted at rest, meeting the encryption-at-rest requirement. Option D is correct because the CloudWatch Logs agent can be configured to use TLS/SSL (port 443) for log delivery, ensuring encryption in transit between the EC2 instances and CloudWatch Logs.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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