Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A company runs a web application on Amazon EC2 instances. The application experiences unpredictable traffic spikes during marketing campaigns. The company configures an Amazon EC2 Auto Scaling group to automatically add instances when CPU utilization exceeds 70% and remove instances when it drops below 30%. This allows the company to handle peak loads without manual intervention and avoid paying for idle capacity during low traffic periods. Which essential characteristic of cloud computing does this configuration BEST demonstrate?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
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On-demand self-service
On-demand self-service allows users to provision resources without requiring human interaction with the provider. While the company can initially configure the Auto Scaling group via the AWS Management Console or API, the scenario focuses on the automatic scaling behavior itself, not the self-service provisioning.
B
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Broad network access
Broad network access means that resources are accessible over the network by a wide range of client devices (e.g., laptops, phones). The scenario does not mention device diversity or network accessibility as the key benefit.
C
Best answer
Rapid elasticity
Rapid elasticity is the ability to quickly and automatically scale computing resources up or down to match demand. The Auto Scaling group adding and removing EC2 instances based on CPU thresholds is a direct example of this characteristic.
D
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Measured service
Measured service means that cloud resource usage is metered and billed on a pay-as-you-go basis. While the company benefits from paying only for the capacity used, the scenario primarily highlights the automatic scaling capability, not the metering or billing aspect.
Common exam trap
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.
Technical deep dive
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.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A developer needs to launch a test server for a new application prototype. The developer logs into the AWS Management Console, selects an Amazon EC2 instance type, configures the security group, and starts the instance. The instance is running within two minutes, and the developer did not need to submit a formal request to the company's IT procurement team or wait for approval from a cloud administrator. Which essential characteristic of cloud computing does this scenario best demonstrate?
Question 2
A solutions architect is planning a new web application on AWS. The workload will include 3 Amazon EC2 instances (t3.medium) running 24/7, an Application Load Balancer, and an Amazon RDS for MySQL db.t3.small database. The architect needs to estimate the monthly cost for the first year, considering different purchasing options (On-Demand, 1-year All Upfront Reserved Instance, and Compute Savings Plan). Which AWS tool should the architect use to create this estimate?
Question 3
A company's development team frequently needs temporary test environments. A developer can log into the AWS Management Console, select an Amazon EC2 instance type, configure storage, and launch the instance within minutes without any interaction with the IT infrastructure team. This capability is an example of which essential characteristic of cloud computing?
Question 4
A company's finance team needs to analyze AWS spending in detail. They require a report that includes hourly cost data for each AWS service, each individual resource (e.g., a specific EC2 instance), and any cost allocation tags applied. The team plans to export this data to an Amazon S3 bucket and then import it into a custom business intelligence (BI) analytics dashboard. Which AWS tool should the finance team use to generate this level of detailed cost data?
Question 5
A company uses AWS for its development environment. The finance team wants to set a monthly budget of $10,000. They want to receive an email notification when the actual costs reach 80% of the budget ($8,000) and again when costs exceed the budget. The team needs a managed AWS service that can automatically send these alerts without requiring custom code or third-party tools. Which AWS service should the team use?
Question 6
A company uses AWS Organizations to manage multiple accounts. The security team needs to enforce a policy that restricts SSH access (port 22) from the internet (0.0.0.0/0) in all VPCs across all accounts. The team wants to centrally define the allowed rules and automatically apply them to newly created VPCs and security groups, while also automatically remediating any existing non-compliant security groups. Which AWS service should the team use?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CLF-C02 question test?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Rapid elasticity — This scenario best demonstrates rapid elasticity, which is the ability to quickly scale resources up and down in response to changing demand. The Auto Scaling group automatically adjusts capacity based on CPU utilization, enabling the application to handle spikes and reduce resources when demand falls. On-demand self-service refers to provisioning resources without human interaction, but the key aspect here is the dynamic scaling, not the initial provisioning. Broad network access involves access from multiple device types, which is not highlighted. Measured service involves metering and pay-per-use, which is a supporting outcome but not the primary characteristic illustrated.
What should I do if I get this CLF-C02 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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