- A
AWS Lambda
Why wrong: AWS Lambda is a serverless compute service designed for event-driven, short-running functions. It does not provide a platform for deploying a traditional Node.js web application with load balancing and auto scaling, nor does it allow direct customization of EC2 instances. Lambda is not suitable for this use case.
- B
AWS Elastic Beanstalk
AWS Elastic Beanstalk is a PaaS service that automatically deploys application code, manages capacity provisioning, load balancing, and auto scaling for web applications. It provides full control over the underlying AWS resources when needed, making it the best fit for a team that wants a managed platform with the option to customize later.
- C
Amazon ECS
Why wrong: Amazon ECS is a container orchestration service that requires the team to manage Docker images, task definitions, and cluster configuration. It is more complex than a PaaS solution and does not automatically deploy application code in the same way Elastic Beanstalk does. The startup wants to avoid this level of management.
- D
AWS CloudFormation
Why wrong: AWS CloudFormation is an infrastructure-as-code service that provisions and manages AWS resources based on templates. It does not provide a platform for automated application deployment of code or built-in load balancing and health monitoring. It is a tool for creating and managing resources, not for running the application directly.
Quick Answer
The answer is AWS Elastic Beanstalk, the correct managed platform for web application deployment that meets this startup’s needs. Elastic Beanstalk is a Platform as a Service (PaaS) that automatically provisions and configures the underlying AWS resources—including EC2 instances, a load balancer, and Auto Scaling—while handling health monitoring and scaling, allowing developers to focus purely on writing Node.js code. Crucially, it preserves the ability to later customize EC2 instances via .ebextensions or SSH and set environment variables through the console or CLI, without requiring a switch to a different compute service. On the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner CLF-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of PaaS versus IaaS services; a common trap is confusing Elastic Beanstalk with AWS Lambda or Amazon ECS, but remember that Beanstalk is for full web applications with optional infrastructure control, not just serverless functions or containers. Memory tip: Think of Elastic Beanstalk as the “set-it-and-forget-it” platform that still lets you tweak the engine later.
CLF-C02 Cloud Technology and Services Practice Question
This CLF-C02 practice question tests your understanding of cloud technology and services. 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 startup is building a Node.js web application. The development team has limited DevOps experience and wants to focus on writing code. They need a managed platform that automatically deploys their application code, provisions the necessary AWS resources (such as EC2 instances, a load balancer, and Auto Scaling), and handles health monitoring and scaling. However, they want the ability to later customize the underlying EC2 instances and configure environment variables without switching to a different compute service. Which AWS service should the startup use?
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 Elastic Beanstalk
AWS Elastic Beanstalk is a Platform as a Service (PaaS) that automatically handles deployment, capacity provisioning, load balancing, Auto Scaling, and health monitoring for web applications. It allows developers to upload their Node.js code and have Elastic Beanstalk provision the underlying EC2 instances, load balancer, and Auto Scaling group while still providing the option to later customize the EC2 instances (e.g., via .ebextensions or SSH) and configure environment variables through the Elastic Beanstalk console or CLI. This matches the startup's need for a managed platform with future customization flexibility.
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 Lambda
Why it's wrong here
AWS Lambda is a serverless compute service designed for event-driven, short-running functions. It does not provide a platform for deploying a traditional Node.js web application with load balancing and auto scaling, nor does it allow direct customization of EC2 instances. Lambda is not suitable for this use case.
- ✓
AWS Elastic Beanstalk
Why this is correct
AWS Elastic Beanstalk is a PaaS service that automatically deploys application code, manages capacity provisioning, load balancing, and auto scaling for web applications. It provides full control over the underlying AWS resources when needed, making it the best fit for a team that wants a managed platform with the option to customize later.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Amazon ECS
Why it's wrong here
Amazon ECS is a container orchestration service that requires the team to manage Docker images, task definitions, and cluster configuration. It is more complex than a PaaS solution and does not automatically deploy application code in the same way Elastic Beanstalk does. The startup wants to avoid this level of management.
- ✗
AWS CloudFormation
Why it's wrong here
AWS CloudFormation is an infrastructure-as-code service that provisions and manages AWS resources based on templates. It does not provide a platform for automated application deployment of code or built-in load balancing and health monitoring. It is a tool for creating and managing resources, not for running the application directly.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse AWS Elastic Beanstalk with AWS CloudFormation, thinking both are Infrastructure as Code tools, but Elastic Beanstalk is a managed PaaS that abstracts the underlying resources, while CloudFormation requires manual resource definition and does not handle application deployment or health monitoring automatically.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Elastic Beanstalk uses a pre-configured Apache or NGINX proxy on Amazon Linux 2 EC2 instances to serve the Node.js application, and it integrates with Amazon CloudWatch for health monitoring and AWS X-Ray for tracing. The environment variables are stored in the Elastic Beanstalk environment configuration and injected into the application at runtime via the /opt/elasticbeanstalk/support/envvars script. A real-world scenario where this matters is a startup that initially deploys with Elastic Beanstalk's default settings but later needs to attach an EFS file system or modify the NGINX configuration using .ebextensions, which is fully supported without migrating to another service.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
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: AWS Elastic Beanstalk — AWS Elastic Beanstalk is a Platform as a Service (PaaS) that automatically handles deployment, capacity provisioning, load balancing, Auto Scaling, and health monitoring for web applications. It allows developers to upload their Node.js code and have Elastic Beanstalk provision the underlying EC2 instances, load balancer, and Auto Scaling group while still providing the option to later customize the EC2 instances (e.g., via .ebextensions or SSH) and configure environment variables through the Elastic Beanstalk console or CLI. This matches the startup's need for a managed platform with future customization flexibility.
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.
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.