Create SNS Topic Triggers: No data security scan

Select an S3 bucket: Forward Scan only

Select an S3 bucket with existing files: Forward or Backward Scan

Link an S3 logging to CloudTrail: Backward Scan only

The scanning mode for Data Security in AWS typically depends on the configuration and the desired

outcomes for monitoring and protecting data within S3 buckets.

Creating SNS Topic Triggers is a configuration step that does not directly involve scanning. It is part of

setting up notifications for events in S3 buckets, but on its own, it does not initiate a data security

scan.

Selecting an S3 bucket without specifying existing files typically implies that you intend to scan new

objects as they are added to the bucket, which is known as a Forward Scan. This mode is proactive

and scans files upon their arrival in the bucket.

When you select an S3 bucket with existing files, you can perform either Forward Scanning for new

files or Backward Scanning to scan all existing files in the bucket. This option provides the most

comprehensive scanning coverage for both new and existing data.

Linking an S3 logging to CloudTrail is usually a step taken to monitor access and changes to S3

resources. In the context of scanning, linking S3 to CloudTrail does not initiate a scan, but the

CloudTrail logs can be used to trigger a Backward Scan if configured to do so, which scans historical

files in the bucket based on CloudTrail events.