- A
Encrypting the data on the Amazon EBS volume using the customer-managed key.
Why wrong: This is a customer responsibility. The customer creates and manages the KMS key and must configure the EBS volume to use that key for encryption. AWS provides the infrastructure for encryption, but the customer controls the key and the encryption settings.
- B
Patching the operating system of the Amazon EC2 instance.
Why wrong: This is a customer responsibility. The customer manages the guest operating system, including applying patches and updates. AWS is responsible only for the hypervisor layer and underlying hardware.
- C
Ensuring the physical security of the data center where the Amazon EC2 instance runs.
This is an AWS responsibility. AWS operates and controls the physical security of its data centers, including access controls, surveillance, and environmental systems. This falls under 'security of the cloud.'
- D
Configuring the security group rules to restrict traffic to the Amazon EC2 instance.
Why wrong: This is a customer responsibility. Security groups act as virtual firewalls, and the customer must define the ingress and egress rules. AWS provides the mechanism, but the configuration is the customer's task.
Quick Answer
The answer is AWS is responsible for ensuring the physical security of the data center where the Amazon EC2 instance runs. This is correct because the AWS shared responsibility model divides duties into security of the cloud and security in the cloud; AWS handles the former, which includes physical hardware, networking, and facilities, while the customer manages the latter, such as guest operating systems, application software, and customer-managed keys like those from AWS KMS. On the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner CLF-C02 exam, this distinction is frequently tested to ensure you understand that no matter what the customer configures—even encryption on EBS volumes—AWS never cedes control of the underlying physical infrastructure. A common trap is confusing data encryption responsibilities with physical security; remember that AWS owns the building, you own the lock. For a quick memory tip, think “AWS owns the box, you own the bits.”
CLF-C02 Cloud Concepts Practice Question
This CLF-C02 practice question tests your understanding of cloud concepts. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 hosts a web application on an Amazon EC2 instance. The company installs its own application software and configures the operating system. The company also uses AWS Key Management Service (AWS KMS) to create a customer-managed key to encrypt data on the Amazon Elastic Block Store (Amazon EBS) volume attached to the instance. According to the AWS shared responsibility model, which of the following is the responsibility of AWS?
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
Ensuring the physical security of the data center where the Amazon EC2 instance runs.
Option C is correct because under the AWS shared responsibility model, AWS is responsible for the security of the cloud, which includes the physical security of data centers, hardware, networking, and facilities where EC2 instances run. This is a foundational layer that customers cannot manage or control.
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.
- ✗
Encrypting the data on the Amazon EBS volume using the customer-managed key.
Why it's wrong here
This is a customer responsibility. The customer creates and manages the KMS key and must configure the EBS volume to use that key for encryption. AWS provides the infrastructure for encryption, but the customer controls the key and the encryption settings.
- ✗
Patching the operating system of the Amazon EC2 instance.
Why it's wrong here
This is a customer responsibility. The customer manages the guest operating system, including applying patches and updates. AWS is responsible only for the hypervisor layer and underlying hardware.
- ✓
Ensuring the physical security of the data center where the Amazon EC2 instance runs.
Why this is correct
This is an AWS responsibility. AWS operates and controls the physical security of its data centers, including access controls, surveillance, and environmental systems. This falls under 'security of the cloud.'
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configuring the security group rules to restrict traffic to the Amazon EC2 instance.
Why it's wrong here
This is a customer responsibility. Security groups act as virtual firewalls, and the customer must define the ingress and egress rules. AWS provides the mechanism, but the configuration is the customer's task.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'encryption at rest' as an AWS responsibility, but the shared responsibility model clearly assigns the management of customer-managed keys and the decision to encrypt to the customer, while AWS only provides the encryption infrastructure.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The shared responsibility model delineates AWS's responsibility for the physical infrastructure (e.g., power, cooling, network cabling, server hardware) from the customer's responsibility for guest OS, applications, and security group configurations. For EBS encryption, the customer manages the KMS key policy and grants, while AWS handles the underlying encryption at rest using the key provided; however, the act of encrypting data (i.e., applying the key to the volume) is initiated by the customer via the AWS API or console. In practice, if a customer fails to patch the OS, AWS will not intervene, as that would violate the customer's administrative control.
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: Ensuring the physical security of the data center where the Amazon EC2 instance runs. — Option C is correct because under the AWS shared responsibility model, AWS is responsible for the security of the cloud, which includes the physical security of data centers, hardware, networking, and facilities where EC2 instances run. This is a foundational layer that customers cannot manage or control.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
3 more ways this is tested on CLF-C02
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. 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?
medium- A.Patching the MySQL database engine for the Amazon RDS instance.
- ✓ B.Patching the guest operating system on the Amazon EC2 instances.
- C.Providing physical security at the AWS data center facilities.
- D.Replacing failed network switches in the AWS global network.
Why B: 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.
Variation 2. A company is migrating a three-tier web application to AWS. The application will run on Amazon EC2 instances using a custom Linux distribution, and a self-managed MySQL database will be installed on the same instances. The company's security team needs to understand which security responsibilities belong to AWS and which belong to the company under the AWS Shared Responsibility Model. According to this model, who is responsible for applying operating system security patches to the EC2 instances and for updating the MySQL database software?
medium- A.AWS is responsible for both the operating system patches and the MySQL database updates.
- ✓ B.The company is responsible for both the operating system patches and the MySQL database updates.
- C.AWS is responsible for the operating system patches, and the company is responsible for the MySQL database updates.
- D.The company is responsible for the operating system patches, and AWS is responsible for the MySQL database updates.
Why B: Under the AWS Shared Responsibility Model, AWS is responsible for the security of the cloud (e.g., physical infrastructure, hypervisor), while the customer is responsible for security in the cloud (e.g., guest OS, applications, and data). Since the company is using a custom Linux distribution on EC2 instances and installing a self-managed MySQL database, both the operating system patches and the MySQL database updates fall under the customer's responsibility. AWS does not manage or patch the guest operating system or any software installed by the customer on EC2 instances.
Variation 3. A startup is migrating a web application to AWS. The application runs on Amazon EC2 instances that use a custom Amazon Machine Image (AMI) with the company's proprietary software. The security team needs to understand which security tasks the company must perform. Under the AWS Shared Responsibility Model, which of the following is the customer's responsibility?
medium- A.Patching the hypervisor that hosts the EC2 instances
- ✓ B.Configuring security groups to control inbound traffic to the instances
- C.Physical security of the data center where the instances run
- D.Maintaining the underlying network infrastructure
Why B: Configuring security groups is a customer responsibility because security groups act as a virtual firewall for EC2 instances, controlling inbound and outbound traffic at the instance level. Under the AWS Shared Responsibility Model, the customer is responsible for configuring network access controls, while AWS manages the underlying infrastructure. This includes defining rules based on IP protocols, ports, and source/destination CIDR ranges.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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