- A
Amazon EFS
Why wrong: EFS provides Linux/POSIX NFS file storage — it doesn't support SMB protocol or Windows Active Directory integration natively.
- B
Amazon FSx for Windows File Server
FSx for Windows provides fully managed Windows file shares with SMB support, AD integration, shadow copies, and Windows ACLs — purpose-built for Windows workloads.
- C
Amazon S3
Why wrong: S3 is object storage accessed via HTTP APIs — it doesn't support SMB or Windows file system semantics.
- D
AWS Storage Gateway
Why wrong: Storage Gateway bridges on-premises storage with AWS — it can expose S3 as an SMB or NFS mount but isn't a fully managed Windows file server.
Question 218 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.
Which AWS service provides managed Microsoft Windows file storage that supports SMB protocol, Active Directory integration, and Windows ACL permissions?
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 FSx for Windows File Server
Amazon FSx for Windows File Server provides fully managed native Microsoft Windows file storage that supports the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol, integrates with Active Directory for identity-based access, and enforces Windows NTFS ACL permissions. This makes it the only AWS service designed specifically to offer these Windows-native features out of the box.
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 EFS
Why it's wrong here
EFS provides Linux/POSIX NFS file storage — it doesn't support SMB protocol or Windows Active Directory integration natively.
- ✓
Amazon FSx for Windows File Server
Why this is correct
FSx for Windows provides fully managed Windows file shares with SMB support, AD integration, shadow copies, and Windows ACLs — purpose-built for Windows workloads.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Amazon S3
Why it's wrong here
S3 is object storage accessed via HTTP APIs — it doesn't support SMB or Windows file system semantics.
- ✗
AWS Storage Gateway
Why it's wrong here
Storage Gateway bridges on-premises storage with AWS — it can expose S3 as an SMB or NFS mount but isn't a fully managed Windows file server.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Amazon EFS (which is NFS-based) with a Windows file share, or assume S3 can serve as a network drive via SMB, but neither supports the required Windows-specific protocols and permissions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, FSx for Windows File Server runs on Windows Server instances with a fully managed NTFS volume, enabling features like shadow copies, deduplication, and DFS namespaces. It integrates with your existing Active Directory via AWS Managed Microsoft AD or self-managed AD, allowing seamless use of Windows ACLs for granular permission control. In a real-world scenario, migrating an on-premises Windows file share to AWS requires preserving SMB access and AD-based permissions, which FSx for Windows File Server handles natively without re-engineering.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
Visual reference
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
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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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 FSx for Windows File Server — Amazon FSx for Windows File Server provides fully managed native Microsoft Windows file storage that supports the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol, integrates with Active Directory for identity-based access, and enforces Windows NTFS ACL permissions. This makes it the only AWS service designed specifically to offer these Windows-native features out of the box.
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 →
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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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