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CCSP Using AWS CloudTrail to log API calls Practice Question
A company is using AWS CloudTrail to log API calls. A security analyst needs to be alerted when an IAM user creates a new access key for another user. Which CloudTrail event should be monitored?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the distinction between API actions that create versus modify versus delete resources, and the trap here is confusing 'CreateAccessKey' with 'UpdateAccessKey' because both involve access keys, but only 'CreateAccessKey' generates a new credential.
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
✓
CreateAccessKey
The correct event to monitor is 'CreateAccessKey' because this is the CloudTrail event name generated when an IAM user creates a new access key for another user. AWS CloudTrail logs all IAM API calls, and the event name directly corresponds to the API action invoked (CreateAccessKey). Monitoring this event allows the security analyst to detect unauthorized creation of access keys, which is a common privilege escalation or persistence technique.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
CreateAccessKey
Why this is correct
CreateAccessKey is the correct API event for creating access keys.
- ✗
DeleteAccessKey
Why it's wrong here
DeleteAccessKey removes an access key, the opposite of creation.
- ✗
CreateUser
Why it's wrong here
CreateUser creates a new IAM user, not an access key.
- ✗
UpdateAccessKey
Why it's wrong here
UpdateAccessKey modifies an existing key, not creates a new one.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.