CV0-004 Operations and Support Practice Question
A cloud administrator needs to ensure that log data is retained for one year to meet compliance requirements. Which action should be taken for the log group in CloudWatch Logs?
⚠ Common exam trap
CV0-004 often tests whether candidates know that retention is a native log group setting — candidates pick workarounds like EventBridge deletion rules or S3 export, missing the simple built-in retention policy configuration.
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
✓
Set the log group's retention policy to 365 days
CloudWatch Logs log groups have a retention setting that controls how long log events are kept before automatic deletion. Setting the retention policy to 365 days ensures logs are retained for exactly one year, meeting the compliance requirement without manual intervention.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Set the log group's retention policy to 365 days
Why this is correct
Setting the log group's retention policy to 365 days directly satisfies the one-year compliance requirement, since CloudWatch Logs deletes events automatically once the configured retention period elapses. Configuring this at the log group level applies uniformly to every log stream within it, avoiding per-stream management and preventing indefinite storage costs.
- ✗
Create a CloudWatch Events rule to delete logs after one year
Why it's wrong here
A CloudWatch Events rule deleting logs after one year actively destroys the data, directly contradicting the retention requirement. It is tempting because scheduled deletion enforces lifecycle limits, and would be correct when policy requires logs to be purged after a maximum period rather than kept.
- ✗
Increase the log group's data durability by enabling encryption
Why it's wrong here
Encryption protects data at rest but does not extend the retention period, so logs still expire at the configured retention setting. It is tempting because compliance often demands encryption, and it would be correct when the requirement is confidentiality of stored log data rather than duration.
- ✗
Export logs to Amazon S3 and delete the log group
Why it's wrong here
Exporting logs to Amazon S3 and deleting the log group removes the log data from CloudWatch Logs entirely, making it impossible to query or search the logs using CloudWatch Logs Insights during the one-year retention period. This action is tempting because S3 provides durable, low-cost long-term storage, and exporting logs there is a valid strategy for archival compliance when the log group is retained for ongoing access.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
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