The correct actions are to block all public access using the S3 Block Public Access feature and to enable default encryption on the bucket. Blocking public access eliminates the risk of unintended data exposure by overriding any bucket policies or ACLs that might grant public read or write permissions, while default encryption ensures that all new objects are automatically encrypted at rest using either SSE-S3 or SSE-KMS. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish foundational security controls from operational features like MFA delete or replication, which serve different purposes. A common trap is confusing CORS or cross-region replication with security mechanisms, but remember that securing sensitive data always starts with preventing unauthorized access and ensuring encryption. Memory tip: think "Block and Lock" — block public access, lock with encryption.
SOA-C02 Security and Compliance Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. 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.
Which TWO actions can a SysOps administrator take to secure an Amazon S3 bucket that contains sensitive data? (Choose TWO.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable default encryption using AWS KMS (SSE-KMS) on the bucket.
Option A is correct because blocking public access is a fundamental security measure. Option C is correct because enabling default encryption ensures data is encrypted at rest. Option B is wrong because MFA delete is for versioned buckets but not a primary security control for all buckets. Option D is wrong because CORS is for cross-origin requests, not security. Option E is wrong because cross-region replication is for disaster recovery, not security.
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.
✗
Configure a cross-origin resource sharing (CORS) policy.
Why it's wrong here
CORS is for web applications, not security.
✓
Enable default encryption using AWS KMS (SSE-KMS) on the bucket.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable cross-region replication for the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
Replication is for durability and DR, not security.
✓
Block all public access to the bucket using the S3 Block Public Access feature.
Why this is correct
Prevents any public access configuration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable MFA Delete on the bucket to require multi-factor authentication for delete operations.
Why it's wrong here
MFA Delete is for deletion protection, not general security.
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 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.
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: Enable default encryption using AWS KMS (SSE-KMS) on the bucket. — Option A is correct because blocking public access is a fundamental security measure. Option C is correct because enabling default encryption ensures data is encrypted at rest. Option B is wrong because MFA delete is for versioned buckets but not a primary security control for all buckets. Option D is wrong because CORS is for cross-origin requests, not security. Option E is wrong because cross-region replication is for disaster recovery, not security.
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.
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 →
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. Which TWO actions can be taken to secure an S3 bucket that contains sensitive data? (Choose two.)
medium
A.Enable versioning on the bucket
B.Add a bucket policy that allows only HTTPS requests
✓ C.Enable default encryption for the bucket
D.Enable AWS CloudTrail for the bucket
✓ E.Block all public access at the account level
Why C: Blocking public access at the account level prevents any public access to buckets. Enabling default encryption ensures data is encrypted at rest. Option A and Option D are correct. Option B is wrong because versioning does not directly secure data; it protects against accidental deletion. Option C is wrong because enabling CloudTrail only logs access, it does not secure the bucket. Option E is wrong because adding a bucket policy that allows only HTTPS ensures encryption in transit, but it is not the most direct security measure.
Variation 2. Which TWO actions should a SysOps administrator take to secure an S3 bucket that stores sensitive data? (Choose two.)
hard
✓ A.Enable S3 Block Public Access settings on the bucket.
B.Enable cross-origin resource sharing (CORS) on the bucket.
C.Enable S3 Versioning.
✓ D.Enable S3 server access logging.
E.Enable S3 Transfer Acceleration.
Why A: Options A and E are correct. Enabling S3 Block Public Access prevents public access, and enabling S3 server access logging provides audit logs. Option B is wrong because CORS is for cross-origin requests, not security. Option C is wrong because S3 Transfer Acceleration is for faster uploads, not security. Option D is wrong because versioning helps with data protection but not direct security control.
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
Question Discussion
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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.
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