The correct method is to create an EventBridge rule that matches the AWS Console Sign-In event from CloudTrail and set its target to an SNS topic. This works because when the root user signs in, CloudTrail logs the event, and EventBridge can filter specifically for the userIdentity type of "Root" within the console login event, triggering a notification via SNS. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of real-time monitoring and event-driven responses using EventBridge (formerly CloudWatch Events) rather than relying on periodic CloudTrail log analysis or IAM alerts. A common trap is confusing this with IAM credential reports or CloudTrail Insights, which are not designed for immediate notification. To remember: think "Root login triggers EventBridge, which bridges the event to SNS for instant alerting."
SOA-C02 Monitoring, Logging, and Remediation Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring, logging, and remediation. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 administrator needs to be notified when the root user signs in to the AWS Management Console. Which method 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
✓
Create a CloudWatch Events rule for 'AWS Console Sign-In' events and set the target to an SNS topic.
Option A is correct because you can create an Amazon CloudWatch Events rule (now called Amazon EventBridge rule) that matches the 'AWS Console Sign-In' event from AWS CloudTrail. When the root user signs in, this event is generated, and the rule can trigger an SNS topic to send a notification to the administrator. This is the recommended approach for real-time alerting on root user activity.
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.
✓
Create a CloudWatch Events rule for 'AWS Console Sign-In' events and set the target to an SNS topic.
Why this is correct
CloudTrail records console sign-ins, and CloudWatch Events can react to them.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable CloudTrail Insights to detect root login anomalies.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail Insights is for detecting unusual API activity, not for real-time notifications.
✗
Create a CloudWatch alarm on the RootAccountUsage metric.
Use AWS Config to track IAM password policy changes.
Why it's wrong here
AWS Config tracks resource configuration, not sign-in events.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think CloudWatch alarms can monitor root account usage directly via a metric, but AWS does not expose a 'RootAccountUsage' metric; instead, you must use CloudTrail events as the source for event-driven alerts.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, CloudTrail logs all management events, including ConsoleLogin events, to an S3 bucket or CloudWatch Logs. CloudWatch Events (EventBridge) uses event pattern matching to filter for specific events, such as those where the userIdentity type is 'Root' and the eventName is 'ConsoleLogin'. The SNS topic then delivers the notification via email, SMS, or other endpoints. This approach ensures low-latency alerting without polling or custom scripts.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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: Create a CloudWatch Events rule for 'AWS Console Sign-In' events and set the target to an SNS topic. — Option A is correct because you can create an Amazon CloudWatch Events rule (now called Amazon EventBridge rule) that matches the 'AWS Console Sign-In' event from AWS CloudTrail. When the root user signs in, this event is generated, and the rule can trigger an SNS topic to send a notification to the administrator. This is the recommended approach for real-time alerting on root user activity.
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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