- A
Enable server-side encryption (SSE-S3) on the S3 bucket
SSE-S3 encrypts objects at rest in S3.
- B
Enable CloudFront HTTPS-only access to the S3 bucket
Why wrong: HTTPS encrypts data in transit, not at rest.
- C
Configure signed URLs for the distribution
Why wrong: Signed URLs control access, not encryption.
- D
Use CloudFront field-level encryption
Why wrong: Field-level encryption encrypts specific data fields at the edge, not at rest in S3.
Question 663 of 1,546
SOA-C02 Networking and Content Delivery Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of networking and content delivery. 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.
A SysOps administrator is configuring Amazon CloudFront to serve content from an Amazon S3 bucket. The content is sensitive and should be encrypted at rest. Which option ensures that content is encrypted at rest in S3?
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
✓
Enable server-side encryption (SSE-S3) on the S3 bucket
Option A is correct because enabling server-side encryption (SSE-S3) on the S3 bucket ensures that objects are encrypted at rest using AES-256 encryption managed by Amazon S3. This directly addresses the requirement for content to be encrypted while stored in S3, independent of how CloudFront accesses the bucket.
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 server-side encryption (SSE-S3) on the S3 bucket
Why this is correct
SSE-S3 encrypts objects at rest in S3.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Enable CloudFront HTTPS-only access to the S3 bucket
- ✗
Configure signed URLs for the distribution
Why it's wrong here
Signed URLs control access, not encryption.
- ✗
Use CloudFront field-level encryption
Why it's wrong here
Field-level encryption encrypts specific data fields at the edge, not at rest in S3.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse encryption in transit (HTTPS) or access control mechanisms (signed URLs) with encryption at rest, leading them to select options that only protect data during transfer or restrict access rather than securing stored data.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Server-side encryption (SSE-S3) uses AES-256 encryption keys managed by AWS, and S3 automatically encrypts objects before writing them to disk and decrypts them when accessed. When CloudFront is configured as an origin access identity (OAI) to access S3, it can retrieve objects that are SSE-S3 encrypted because S3 handles decryption transparently for authorized requests. This ensures end-to-end encryption at rest without requiring any changes to CloudFront configuration.
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.
Quick reference
Symmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Size | Block Size | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AES-128 | 128-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | NIST approved; WPA3, TLS |
| AES-256 | 256-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | Preferred for sensitive / govt data |
| 3DES | 112-bit effective | 64-bit | Deprecated (2023) | Replaced by AES |
| DES | 56-bit | 64-bit | Broken | Cracked in < 24 h; never deploy |
| ChaCha20 | 256-bit | Stream cipher | Current | TLS 1.3, WireGuard |
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SOA-C02 question test?
Networking and Content Delivery — This question tests Networking and Content Delivery — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable server-side encryption (SSE-S3) on the S3 bucket — Option A is correct because enabling server-side encryption (SSE-S3) on the S3 bucket ensures that objects are encrypted at rest using AES-256 encryption managed by Amazon S3. This directly addresses the requirement for content to be encrypted while stored in S3, independent of how CloudFront accesses the bucket.
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
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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