- A
AWS CloudShell
Why wrong: CloudShell provides a browser-based shell to run CLI commands against AWS services — it doesn't provide remote instance management across EC2 fleets.
- B
AWS Systems Manager
Systems Manager enables fleet management including Run Command (remote script execution), Patch Manager, Inventory collection, and Session Manager (SSH-free interactive access) without requiring open inbound ports.
- C
Amazon EC2 Instance Connect
Why wrong: EC2 Instance Connect provides temporary SSH access via the console — it requires SSH (port 22) and doesn't support fleet-wide command execution.
- D
AWS Config
Why wrong: Config tracks resource configuration compliance — it doesn't execute commands or apply patches to running instances.
Question 391 of 1,024
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 company runs a fleet of 100 EC2 instances and needs to remotely execute commands, apply patches, and collect inventory data across all instances without opening SSH ports. Which AWS service enables this?
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 Systems Manager
AWS Systems Manager is the correct service because it provides a unified interface to remotely execute commands, apply patches, and collect inventory data across EC2 instances without requiring SSH access. It uses the Systems Manager Agent (SSM Agent) installed on the instances and communicates over HTTPS (port 443), eliminating the need to open inbound SSH ports (port 22). This aligns directly with the requirement to manage a fleet of 100 instances securely and at scale.
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 CloudShell
Why it's wrong here
CloudShell provides a browser-based shell to run CLI commands against AWS services — it doesn't provide remote instance management across EC2 fleets.
- ✓
AWS Systems Manager
Why this is correct
Systems Manager enables fleet management including Run Command (remote script execution), Patch Manager, Inventory collection, and Session Manager (SSH-free interactive access) without requiring open inbound ports.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Amazon EC2 Instance Connect
Why it's wrong here
EC2 Instance Connect provides temporary SSH access via the console — it requires SSH (port 22) and doesn't support fleet-wide command execution.
- ✗
AWS Config
Why it's wrong here
Config tracks resource configuration compliance — it doesn't execute commands or apply patches to running instances.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Amazon EC2 Instance Connect (which still requires SSH port 22 to be open) with a solution that avoids opening ports entirely, or they mistakenly think AWS CloudShell can directly manage EC2 instances, when it is only a shell for the AWS CLI.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
CloudShell provides a browser-based shell to run CLI commands against AWS services — it doesn't provide remote instance management across EC2 fleets.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Systems Manager uses the SSM Agent to establish a bidirectional WebSocket connection over HTTPS to the AWS Systems Manager service, enabling Run Command, Patch Manager, and Inventory features. The agent polls for commands from the service, executes them locally, and sends results back, all without exposing any inbound ports. In a real-world scenario, this is critical for hybrid environments where instances may be in private subnets or on-premises, as Systems Manager can also manage on-premises servers via a managed instance activation.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
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.
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Cloud Technology and Services — study guide chapter
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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 Systems Manager — AWS Systems Manager is the correct service because it provides a unified interface to remotely execute commands, apply patches, and collect inventory data across EC2 instances without requiring SSH access. It uses the Systems Manager Agent (SSM Agent) installed on the instances and communicates over HTTPS (port 443), eliminating the need to open inbound SSH ports (port 22). This aligns directly with the requirement to manage a fleet of 100 instances securely and at scale.
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.
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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.
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