CLF-C02 Security and Compliance Practice Question
According to the AWS Shared Responsibility Model, for which of the following is the customer ALWAYS responsible, regardless of the AWS service used?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse operational responsibilities (like patching or network management) with customer-owned data governance, leading them to select options that AWS actually manages under the 'Security of the Cloud' pillar.
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
✓
Customer data and its classification
Under the AWS Shared Responsibility Model, the customer is always responsible for customer data and its classification, regardless of the service used. This includes deciding what data to store, how it is encrypted, and how access controls are configured. AWS never assumes responsibility for the content or classification of customer data, as this is entirely under the customer's control.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Physical security of the data center
Why it's wrong here
AWS designs and maintains data centers with multiple layers of physical access controls, such as biometric authentication, mantraps, and 24/7 monitoring. Customers have no physical access to AWS data centers, and this responsibility is entirely on AWS under the shared responsibility model. Therefore, physical security is not a customer responsibility.
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Patching the underlying hypervisor
Why it's wrong here
The hypervisor is part of the virtualization layer that AWS manages. AWS is responsible for patching and maintaining the hypervisor that separates tenant workloads. Customers are responsible for patching their own guest operating systems and applications, but not the underlying hypervisor. Thus this is not a customer responsibility.
- ✓
Customer data and its classification
Why this is correct
Under the shared responsibility model, the customer retains ownership and control of their data. This includes deciding what data to store, how to classify it, who can access it, and whether to encrypt it. AWS never takes responsibility for customer data classification; it's solely the customer's obligation. Thus, this is the correct answer.
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Network infrastructure management
Why it's wrong here
AWS manages the physical network infrastructure, including routers, switches, and cabling. Customers are responsible for configuring their virtual networks, such as VPCs, subnets, and security groups, but not the underlying physical network. Therefore, network infrastructure management, in the sense of physical infrastructure, is not a customer responsibility.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.