The answer is AWS Config with a managed rule and automatic remediation via SSM Automation. This combination works because AWS Config continuously evaluates S3 bucket configurations against the managed rule `s3-bucket-public-read-prohibited` or `s3-bucket-public-write-prohibited`, and when it detects a bucket that has become publicly accessible, it triggers an SSM Automation document as a remediation action to apply a bucket policy that blocks public access—all without requiring custom code. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to detect and remediate S3 public access using fully managed services, often appearing as a question where you must choose between AWS Config, Lambda, or CloudWatch. A common trap is selecting Lambda for custom remediation, but the exam emphasizes minimal custom code, making SSM Automation the correct choice. Memory tip: think “Config catches, SSM fixes” to remember the detection-to-remediation pipeline.
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. A key principle to apply: aWS Config continuously monitors resource configurations for compliance.. 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's security policy requires that all Amazon S3 buckets must be non-publicly accessible. The SysOps administrator needs to automatically detect any bucket that becomes publicly accessible and automatically remediate it by applying a bucket policy that blocks public access. The solution should use AWS managed services with minimal custom code. Which combination of services 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
✓
AWS Config with managed rule and automatic remediation via SSM Automation
AWS Config with a managed rule (e.g., s3-bucket-public-read-prohibited or s3-bucket-public-write-prohibited) can continuously evaluate S3 bucket configurations against the security policy. When a bucket becomes publicly accessible, AWS Config triggers an automatic remediation action using an SSM Automation document that applies a bucket policy to block public access, all without custom code.
Key principle: AWS Config continuously monitors resource configurations for compliance.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
AWS IAM Access Analyzer with Amazon EventBridge
Why it's wrong here
Detects public access but does not provide automatic remediation.
✓
AWS Config with managed rule and automatic remediation via SSM Automation
Why this is correct
Evaluates compliance and automatically applies remediation using managed automation.
Related concept
AWS Config continuously monitors resource configurations for compliance.
✗
AWS CloudTrail and AWS Lambda
Why it's wrong here
Requires custom Lambda code to detect and remediate.
✗
AWS Trusted Advisor and Amazon SNS
Why it's wrong here
Provides recommendations only, no automatic remediation.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose AWS IAM Access Analyzer (Option A) because it detects public access, but they overlook that it lacks built-in automatic remediation, requiring additional services and custom code to achieve the full requirement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS Config managed rules use AWS Lambda under the hood to evaluate resource configurations against the rule logic, but the remediation action is handled by AWS Systems Manager Automation documents, which can run pre-defined steps (e.g., aws:executeAwsApi to call PutBucketPolicy). The SSM Automation document can be configured to automatically apply a bucket policy that denies all s3:GetObject actions from the Principal "*" (or a condition like "Null" for aws:SourceIp), effectively blocking public access. This approach ensures compliance without custom code, as the automation document is provided by AWS and can be customized via parameters.
KKey Concepts to Remember
AWS Config continuously monitors resource configurations for compliance.
AWS Config uses managed or custom rules to evaluate resource compliance.
AWS Systems Manager (SSM) Automation documents can be triggered by Config for remediation.
→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
AWS Config continuously monitors resource configurations for compliance.
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 aWS Config continuously monitors resource configurations for compliance., then practise related SOA-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Security and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — AWS Config continuously monitors resource configurations for compliance..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: AWS Config with managed rule and automatic remediation via SSM Automation — AWS Config with a managed rule (e.g., s3-bucket-public-read-prohibited or s3-bucket-public-write-prohibited) can continuously evaluate S3 bucket configurations against the security policy. When a bucket becomes publicly accessible, AWS Config triggers an automatic remediation action using an SSM Automation document that applies a bucket policy to block public access, all without custom code.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
Review aWS Config continuously monitors resource configurations for compliance., then practise related SOA-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
AWS Config continuously monitors resource configurations for compliance.
About these practice questions
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company uses Amazon S3 to store sensitive customer data. A SysOps administrator needs to ensure that any S3 bucket that is incorrectly configured to allow public read access is automatically remediated within five minutes. The administrator wants to use native AWS services with minimal custom code. Which solution should be used?
medium
✓ A.Use AWS Config with the 's3-bucket-public-read-prohibited' managed rule and configure automatic remediation to block public access.
B.Create an Amazon EventBridge (CloudWatch Events) rule that triggers an AWS Lambda function to check and fix public read access.
C.Apply an S3 bucket policy to each bucket that denies public read access.
D.Use AWS Trusted Advisor to check for public read access and manually remediate when notified.
Why A: AWS Config with the 's3-bucket-public-read-prohibited' managed rule can automatically evaluate S3 bucket configurations against the desired state. When a non-compliant bucket is detected, AWS Config can trigger an automatic remediation action (e.g., applying an S3 bucket policy or blocking public access) using AWS Systems Manager Automation documents, all within the required five-minute window and with minimal custom code.
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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.
Question Discussion
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