The answer is to create an SCP that denies AWS API calls using protocols lower than TLS 1.2 and to use CloudTrail to monitor for non-compliant requests. This works because Service Control Policies (SCPs) operate at the AWS Organizations level to explicitly block API actions that do not meet the required encryption protocol, while CloudTrail logs provide visibility into any attempts that bypass or fail the policy. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of how to enforce encryption standards across an entire account hierarchy, not just within a single resource. A common trap is confusing IAM policies with SCPs—IAM cannot enforce protocol versions, and simply requiring HTTPS is insufficient because TLS 1.0 or 1.1 could still be used. Remember the mnemonic: “SCP stops the call, CloudTrail catches the fall.”
SOA-C02 Security and Compliance Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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's security team requires that all API calls to AWS services are encrypted in transit using TLS 1.2 or higher. Which TWO actions should be taken to enforce this?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use AWS CloudTrail to monitor for API calls using TLS 1.0 and generate alerts.
Option A and Option E are correct. Using an SCP that denies requests without TLS 1.2 and using CloudTrail to monitor for non-compliant requests are effective. Option B is wrong because IAM policies cannot enforce protocol versions. Option C is wrong because enforcing HTTPS only is not enough; TLS version matters. Option D is wrong because EC2 security groups control network traffic, not API calls.
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.
✗
Enable AWS CloudTrail to log all API calls.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail logs events but does not enforce encryption.
✗
Configure EC2 security groups to only allow HTTPS traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Security groups apply to EC2 instances, not API calls.
✓
Use AWS CloudTrail to monitor for API calls using TLS 1.0 and generate alerts.
Why this is correct
CloudTrail can log TLS version; monitoring and alerting can detect non-compliance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Create an IAM policy that denies access unless the request uses TLS 1.2.
Why it's wrong here
IAM policies do not have a condition for TLS version.
✓
Create an SCP that denies AWS API calls using protocols lower than TLS 1.2.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
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
How to think about this question
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.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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 — 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: Use AWS CloudTrail to monitor for API calls using TLS 1.0 and generate alerts. — Option A and Option E are correct. Using an SCP that denies requests without TLS 1.2 and using CloudTrail to monitor for non-compliant requests are effective. Option B is wrong because IAM policies cannot enforce protocol versions. Option C is wrong because enforcing HTTPS only is not enough; TLS version matters. Option D is wrong because EC2 security groups control network traffic, not API calls.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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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