- A
AWS Config
Why wrong: AWS Config evaluates resource configurations against desired policies, but does not log API calls.
- B
AWS CloudTrail
CloudTrail records API calls and can be enabled to capture management events.
- C
Amazon GuardDuty
Why wrong: GuardDuty is a threat detection service, not a logging service.
- D
AWS Security Hub
Why wrong: Security Hub aggregates security findings but does not log API calls.
Question 899 of 1,000
CCSP Cloud Security Operations Practice Question
This CCSP practice question tests your understanding of cloud security operations. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 cloud security engineer is tasked with ensuring that all API calls made to AWS resources are logged for audit purposes. Which AWS service should be enabled to capture management events such as creating or deleting EC2 instances?
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
✓
AWS CloudTrail
AWS CloudTrail is the correct service because it is specifically designed to record API activity in an AWS account, including management events such as creating or deleting EC2 instances. It captures the who, what, when, and source IP for every API call, which is essential for audit logging and compliance. AWS Config, by contrast, records resource configuration changes and compliance history, not API call logs.
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.
- ✗
AWS Config
Why it's wrong here
AWS Config evaluates resource configurations against desired policies, but does not log API calls.
- ✓
AWS CloudTrail
Why this is correct
CloudTrail records API calls and can be enabled to capture management events.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Amazon GuardDuty
Why it's wrong here
GuardDuty is a threat detection service, not a logging service.
- ✗
AWS Security Hub
Why it's wrong here
Security Hub aggregates security findings but does not log API calls.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse AWS Config (which tracks configuration history) with CloudTrail (which tracks API calls), leading them to select AWS Config for audit logging of management events.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CloudTrail delivers log files in JSON or gzip format to an S3 bucket, and each event record includes fields such as eventTime, eventSource, userIdentity, sourceIPAddress, and requestParameters. By default, CloudTrail enables management event logging for all regions without additional configuration, but it does not log data events (e.g., S3 GetObject) unless explicitly enabled via a trail with data event selectors. A real-world scenario: if an EC2 instance is unexpectedly terminated, CloudTrail logs reveal the IAM user or role that made the TerminateInstances API call, the source IP, and the time, enabling incident response and forensic analysis.
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 security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
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.
- →
Cloud Security Operations — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CCSP question test?
Cloud Security Operations — This question tests Cloud Security Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: AWS CloudTrail — AWS CloudTrail is the correct service because it is specifically designed to record API activity in an AWS account, including management events such as creating or deleting EC2 instances. It captures the who, what, when, and source IP for every API call, which is essential for audit logging and compliance. AWS Config, by contrast, records resource configuration changes and compliance history, not API call logs.
What should I do if I get this CCSP 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
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CCSP practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CCSP exam.
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