Question 531 of 1,546
Monitoring, Logging, and RemediationhardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Automated Remediation of S3 Public ACLs with AWS Config Rules

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. A key principle to apply: aWS Config. 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.

The security team requires that no S3 bucket in the account ever has public read or write ACLs enabled. They want non-compliant buckets automatically remediated within 5 minutes of detection without any manual intervention. What is the correct implementation?

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

Create an AWS Config rule for s3-bucket-public-read-prohibited; configure auto-remediation using the AWS-DisableS3BucketPublicReadWrite SSM Automation document

Option A is correct because AWS Config can evaluate S3 bucket ACLs against the `s3-bucket-public-read-prohibited` managed rule and automatically trigger an AWS Systems Manager (SSM) Automation document (`AWS-DisableS3BucketPublicReadWrite`) as a remediation action. This ensures non-compliant buckets are fixed within minutes without manual intervention, meeting the 5-minute requirement.

Key principle: AWS Config

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 an AWS Config rule for s3-bucket-public-read-prohibited; configure auto-remediation using the AWS-DisableS3BucketPublicReadWrite SSM Automation document

    Why this is correct

    Config evaluates the rule within seconds of a bucket ACL change. The auto-remediation action invokes the SSM document automatically when compliance status changes to NON_COMPLIANT. The SSM document calls PutBucketAcl to remove public grants. The entire cycle completes in 1-3 minutes under normal conditions.

    Related concept

    AWS Config

  • Create an EventBridge rule that matches S3 PutBucketAcl API calls and triggers a Lambda function to re-apply a private ACL

    Why it's wrong here

    EventBridge with a Lambda is a valid alternative that reacts to API events, but it duplicates capability that Config auto-remediation already provides natively. The Config approach is simpler to maintain (no Lambda code), produces a compliance audit trail, and is the AWS-recommended pattern for Config-based remediation.

  • Enable S3 Block Public Access at the account level to prevent public ACLs from being set in the first place

    Why it's wrong here

    S3 Block Public Access is a preventive control that blocks future public ACL settings — it is the correct long-term solution and should also be implemented. However, it does not detect or remediate buckets that were already public before the setting was enabled, so the Config auto-remediation is still needed for non-compliant existing resources.

  • Schedule a daily Lambda function that lists all buckets, checks ACLs, and removes public grants if found

    Why it's wrong here

    A daily schedule means a bucket can remain public for up to 24 hours before remediation. The requirement is 5 minutes. Config with auto-remediation triggers on configuration change, not on a schedule, making it far more responsive.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates often choose Option C (Block Public Access) thinking it prevents all public access, but it does not remediate existing non-compliant buckets, which is explicitly required by the question.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

AWS Config rules evaluate resource configurations against desired policies, and when paired with SSM Automation documents, they can execute remediation steps like disabling public ACLs via the S3 API. The `AWS-DisableS3BucketPublicReadWrite` document uses the `PutBucketAcl` API to apply a private ACL (bucket-owner-full-control), and Config can be configured with a maximum execution frequency of 5 minutes (e.g., `One_Hour` or `Three_Hours` for periodic rules, but for change-triggered rules, remediation is near-instant). In practice, you must also ensure the Config rule is set to evaluate on configuration changes (e.g., `ConfigurationChanges` trigger) to meet the 5-minute window, as periodic rules may have longer intervals.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • AWS Config
  • config rule remediation
  • SSM automation
  • auto-remediation
  • AWS-DisableS3BucketPublicReadWrite

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

AWS Config

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

AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison

Storage ClassMin DurationRetrievalUse Case
S3 StandardNoneImmediateFrequently accessed data
S3 Standard-IA30 daysImmediateInfrequent access, rapid retrieval
S3 One Zone-IA30 daysImmediateNon-critical infrequent data
S3 Intelligent-TieringNoneImmediate–hoursUnknown or changing access patterns
S3 Glacier Instant90 daysMillisecondsArchive with instant retrieval
S3 Glacier Flexible90 daysMinutes–hoursArchive, flexible retrieval
S3 Glacier Deep Archive180 daysHoursLong-term compliance archive

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Review aWS Config, then practise related SOA-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.

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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 — AWS Config.

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Create an AWS Config rule for s3-bucket-public-read-prohibited; configure auto-remediation using the AWS-DisableS3BucketPublicReadWrite SSM Automation document — Option A is correct because AWS Config can evaluate S3 bucket ACLs against the `s3-bucket-public-read-prohibited` managed rule and automatically trigger an AWS Systems Manager (SSM) Automation document (`AWS-DisableS3BucketPublicReadWrite`) as a remediation action. This ensures non-compliant buckets are fixed within minutes without manual intervention, meeting the 5-minute requirement.

What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?

Review aWS Config, then practise related SOA-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.

What is the key concept behind this question?

AWS Config

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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026

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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.