- A
Patching the MySQL database engine for the Amazon RDS instance.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Amazon RDS is a managed service; AWS is responsible for patching the database engine. The customer only manages data and access.
- B
Patching the guest operating system on the Amazon EC2 instances.
Correct. The customer is responsible for the security of the guest OS on EC2 instances, including applying patches and updates. AWS manages the hypervisor and physical infrastructure.
- C
Providing physical security at the AWS data center facilities.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Physical security of AWS data centers is entirely the responsibility of AWS. Customers do not have physical access to data centers.
- D
Replacing failed network switches in the AWS global network.
Why wrong: Incorrect. AWS manages and replaces all physical network hardware as part of its responsibility for the security of the cloud.
CLF-C02 Cloud Concepts Practice Question
This CLF-C02 practice question tests your understanding of cloud concepts. 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 company is migrating an on-premises application to AWS. The application will run on Amazon EC2 instances and use an Amazon RDS for MySQL database. The security team needs to understand which security controls remain the company's responsibility after the migration. Under the AWS Shared Responsibility Model, which of the following is the customer's responsibility?
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
Patching the guest operating system on the Amazon EC2 instances.
Under the AWS Shared Responsibility Model, the customer is responsible for patching the guest operating system on Amazon EC2 instances because EC2 is an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) offering where AWS manages the hypervisor and physical infrastructure, but the customer has full control over the OS, applications, and configurations. In contrast, for Amazon RDS, AWS handles patching of the database engine (e.g., MySQL) and the underlying OS, making option A AWS's responsibility. Physical security at AWS data centers is always AWS's responsibility, not the customer's.
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.
- ✗
Patching the MySQL database engine for the Amazon RDS instance.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Amazon RDS is a managed service; AWS is responsible for patching the database engine. The customer only manages data and access.
- ✓
Patching the guest operating system on the Amazon EC2 instances.
Why this is correct
Correct. The customer is responsible for the security of the guest OS on EC2 instances, including applying patches and updates. AWS manages the hypervisor and physical infrastructure.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Providing physical security at the AWS data center facilities.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Physical security of AWS data centers is entirely the responsibility of AWS. Customers do not have physical access to data centers.
- ✗
Replacing failed network switches in the AWS global network.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. AWS manages and replaces all physical network hardware as part of its responsibility for the security of the cloud.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the responsibility for patching in managed services like RDS versus unmanaged services like EC2, assuming the customer must patch everything in RDS, when in fact AWS handles the database engine and OS patching for RDS.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
For EC2 instances, the customer must manage OS patches (e.g., using AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager or manual updates) because the guest OS runs on a virtual machine under the customer's administrative control. In contrast, Amazon RDS automates patching for the database engine and OS via maintenance windows, but the customer can control the timing of these patches. A real-world scenario is a compliance requirement like PCI DSS, where the customer must still patch the EC2 OS but can rely on AWS for RDS patching, reducing operational overhead.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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 Concepts — This question tests Cloud Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Patching the guest operating system on the Amazon EC2 instances. — Under the AWS Shared Responsibility Model, the customer is responsible for patching the guest operating system on Amazon EC2 instances because EC2 is an Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) offering where AWS manages the hypervisor and physical infrastructure, but the customer has full control over the OS, applications, and configurations. In contrast, for Amazon RDS, AWS handles patching of the database engine (e.g., MySQL) and the underlying OS, making option A AWS's responsibility. Physical security at AWS data centers is always AWS's responsibility, not the customer's.
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
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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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