- A
Amazon EC2 with Amazon ECS using the EC2 launch type
Why wrong: With the EC2 launch type, you manage a cluster of EC2 instances that host your containers. You are responsible for patching, scaling, and capacity planning of these instances, which does not meet the requirement to avoid managing servers.
- B
AWS Elastic Beanstalk with a Docker platform
Why wrong: Elastic Beanstalk abstracts some infrastructure management but still runs your Docker containers on EC2 instances that you pay for even when idle. It does not provide serverless container pricing and still involves managing the underlying instances (though automated).
- C
Amazon ECS with the AWS Fargate launch type
Fargate is a serverless compute engine for containers. You define your task definitions, and Fargate runs the containers on shared, AWS-managed infrastructure. No servers to manage, and you pay only for the vCPU and memory resources consumed by your running tasks.
- D
AWS Lambda
Why wrong: Lambda is designed for running code in response to events, not for hosting containerized microservices. While Lambda now supports packaging code as container images, it is optimized for short-running, event-driven functions, not long-running microservices with features like service discovery and health checks.
CLF-C02 Cloud Technology and Services Practice Question
This CLF-C02 practice question tests your understanding of cloud technology and services. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 development team wants to deploy a containerized microservices application on AWS. The team wants to minimize operational overhead by not managing any servers or container orchestration control plane. They also want to pay only for the compute and memory resources their containers consume, without needing to provision or scale underlying infrastructure. Which AWS compute service should the team use?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
Amazon ECS with the AWS Fargate launch type
Amazon ECS with the AWS Fargate launch type is the correct choice because Fargate is a serverless compute engine that removes the need to manage servers or the container orchestration control plane. With Fargate, you define your containerized microservices and pay only for the vCPU and memory resources consumed at the task level, without provisioning or scaling underlying EC2 instances. This directly meets the team's requirement for zero operational overhead and pay-per-consumption billing.
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.
- ✗
Amazon EC2 with Amazon ECS using the EC2 launch type
Why it's wrong here
With the EC2 launch type, you manage a cluster of EC2 instances that host your containers. You are responsible for patching, scaling, and capacity planning of these instances, which does not meet the requirement to avoid managing servers.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question specified that the team has existing EC2 instances to utilize, needs to optimize costs for predictable workloads, or requires full control over the underlying infrastructure for compliance or performance tuning.
- ✗
AWS Elastic Beanstalk with a Docker platform
Why it's wrong here
Elastic Beanstalk abstracts some infrastructure management but still runs your Docker containers on EC2 instances that you pay for even when idle. It does not provide serverless container pricing and still involves managing the underlying instances (though automated).
When this WOULD be correct
A team wants to deploy a Docker-based application with minimal configuration, but they are willing to manage the underlying EC2 instances for cost optimization or to have full control over the environment. They also need built-in auto-scaling and load balancing without managing the container orchestration layer directly.
- ✓
Amazon ECS with the AWS Fargate launch type
Why this is correct
Fargate is a serverless compute engine for containers. You define your task definitions, and Fargate runs the containers on shared, AWS-managed infrastructure. No servers to manage, and you pay only for the vCPU and memory resources consumed by your running tasks.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
AWS Lambda
Why it's wrong here
Lambda is designed for running code in response to events, not for hosting containerized microservices. While Lambda now supports packaging code as container images, it is optimized for short-running, event-driven functions, not long-running microservices with features like service discovery and health checks.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asking for a serverless compute service to run code in response to events (e.g., S3 uploads, API Gateway requests) with automatic scaling and pay-per-execution pricing, where the code is packaged as a container image and execution time is under 15 minutes.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The CLF-C02 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Amazon ECS with the AWS Fargate launch typeCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Fargate is a serverless compute engine for containers. You define your task definitions, and Fargate runs the containers on shared, AWS-managed infrastructure. No servers to manage, and you pay only for the vCPU and memory resources consumed by your running tasks.
✗Amazon EC2 with Amazon ECS using the EC2 launch typeWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Amazon EC2 with ECS EC2 launch type requires managing EC2 instances and the container orchestration control plane, contradicting the requirement to minimize operational overhead and not manage servers.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question specified that the team has existing EC2 instances to utilize, needs to optimize costs for predictable workloads, or requires full control over the underlying infrastructure for compliance or performance tuning.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may associate ECS with containers and overlook the distinction between EC2 and Fargate launch types, assuming ECS inherently abstracts server management.
✗AWS Elastic Beanstalk with a Docker platformWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
AWS Elastic Beanstalk with a Docker platform still requires managing underlying EC2 instances or a container orchestration control plane, and it does not offer the per-container billing model that Fargate provides.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A team wants to deploy a Docker-based application with minimal configuration, but they are willing to manage the underlying EC2 instances for cost optimization or to have full control over the environment. They also need built-in auto-scaling and load balancing without managing the container orchestration layer directly.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think Elastic Beanstalk abstracts away all infrastructure management, but it still involves provisioning and managing EC2 instances, which contradicts the 'no servers' requirement in the question.
✗AWS LambdaWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
AWS Lambda is designed for short-running, event-driven functions, not for containerized microservices that require long-running processes or stateful workloads. It also has limitations on execution time (15 minutes max) and container image size, making it unsuitable for general containerized applications.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asking for a serverless compute service to run code in response to events (e.g., S3 uploads, API Gateway requests) with automatic scaling and pay-per-execution pricing, where the code is packaged as a container image and execution time is under 15 minutes.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse 'serverless' with 'no server management' and assume Lambda can run any containerized app, overlooking its execution duration and stateless nature constraints.
Analysis generated from the official CLF-C02blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse AWS Fargate with AWS Lambda, assuming both are 'serverless' for containers, but Lambda is for functions with strict execution limits and runtime constraints, while Fargate is the true serverless compute engine for containers that supports long-running processes and full Docker images.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, AWS Fargate abstracts the underlying EC2 infrastructure by using a dedicated Nitro hypervisor-based isolation layer that allocates vCPU and memory per task, enabling true pay-per-use billing at the container level. A subtle behavior to note is that Fargate tasks have a maximum of 16 vCPUs and 120 GB of memory per task, and they cannot use GPU or instance store volumes, which can be a limitation for certain workloads. In a real-world scenario, a team running a stateless microservice with variable traffic would benefit from Fargate's automatic scaling and lack of patching duties, whereas a stateful application requiring persistent storage would need to attach EFS volumes or use a sidecar pattern.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
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 Technology and Services — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Cloud Technology and Services practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All CLF-C02 questions
1,024 questions across all exam domains
- →
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner CLF-C02 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
CLF-C02 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related CLF-C02 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Cloud Concepts practice questions
Practise CLF-C02 questions linked to Cloud Concepts.
Security and Compliance practice questions
Practise CLF-C02 questions linked to Security and Compliance.
Cloud Technology and Services practice questions
Practise CLF-C02 questions linked to Cloud Technology and Services.
Billing, Pricing, and Support practice questions
Practise CLF-C02 questions linked to Billing, Pricing, and Support.
AWS shared responsibility model practice questions
Practise CLF-C02 questions linked to AWS shared responsibility model.
AWS IAM practice questions
Practise CLF-C02 questions linked to AWS IAM.
AWS pricing practice questions
Practise CLF-C02 questions linked to AWS pricing.
AWS support plans practice questions
Practise CLF-C02 questions linked to AWS support plans.
AWS S3 practice questions
Practise CLF-C02 questions linked to AWS S3.
AWS EC2 practice questions
Practise CLF-C02 questions linked to AWS EC2.
Practice this exam
Start a free CLF-C02 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CLF-C02 question test?
Cloud Technology and Services — This question tests Cloud Technology and Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Amazon ECS with the AWS Fargate launch type — Amazon ECS with the AWS Fargate launch type is the correct choice because Fargate is a serverless compute engine that removes the need to manage servers or the container orchestration control plane. With Fargate, you define your containerized microservices and pay only for the vCPU and memory resources consumed at the task level, without provisioning or scaling underlying EC2 instances. This directly meets the team's requirement for zero operational overhead and pay-per-consumption billing.
What should I do if I get this CLF-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More CLF-C02 practice questions
- A company publishes a message each time a new product is added to its catalogue. Three services need to receive this mes…
- A media company stores frequently accessed video thumbnails in Amazon S3. The thumbnails are read multiple times every d…
- A company needs a service to translate domain names (like www.example.com) into IP addresses, check the health of their…
- A startup runs an application on AWS and receives a monthly bill that charges exactly for the number of compute hours us…
- A financial institution runs its core banking application on-premises due to regulatory requirements. It has connected i…
- A company wants to run a MySQL database in AWS without managing database software installation, applying patches, settin…
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This CLF-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services 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 CLF-C02 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.