- A
The EC2 instance is stopped
Correct. When an EC2 instance is stopped, it stops emitting metric data, so CloudWatch alarms that rely on those metrics will show INSUFFICIENT_DATA.
- B
The alarm period and evaluation periods are misconfigured
Why wrong: Incorrect. Misconfigured alarm period or evaluation periods would affect when the alarm triggers but not the availability of data. If data were present, the alarm would eventually go to OK or ALARM.
- C
The CloudWatch agent is not installed on the EC2 instance
Why wrong: Incorrect. Basic EC2 metrics (e.g., CPUUtilization) are available by default without the CloudWatch agent. The agent is only needed for custom metrics or OS-level statistics.
- D
The threshold is set too high for the metric
Why wrong: Incorrect. A high threshold would lead to an OK state if data is present and below the threshold, not INSUFFICIENT_DATA.
DVA-C02 Basic vs. Detailed Monitoring Practice Question
This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of troubleshooting and optimization. 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. A key principle to apply: basic vs. Detailed Monitoring. 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.
The above CloudWatch alarm is configured for an EC2 instance. The alarm state is 'INSUFFICIENT_DATA' and has been for 2 days. Which of the following is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
The EC2 instance is stopped
The INSUFFICIENT_DATA state indicates that CloudWatch has not received any metric data for the alarm. For basic EC2 metrics like CPUUtilization, data is automatically sent to CloudWatch every 5 minutes by default. If the instance is stopped, no data is sent, leading to INSUFFICIENT_DATA. Option C is incorrect because the CloudWatch agent is not needed for basic metrics; it is required only for custom or OS-level metrics. Therefore, the most likely cause is that the EC2 instance is stopped.
Key principle: Basic vs. Detailed Monitoring
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
The EC2 instance is stopped
Why this is correct
Correct. When an EC2 instance is stopped, it stops emitting metric data, so CloudWatch alarms that rely on those metrics will show INSUFFICIENT_DATA.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Basic vs. Detailed Monitoring
- ✗
The alarm period and evaluation periods are misconfigured
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Misconfigured alarm period or evaluation periods would affect when the alarm triggers but not the availability of data. If data were present, the alarm would eventually go to OK or ALARM.
- ✗
The CloudWatch agent is not installed on the EC2 instance
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Basic EC2 metrics (e.g., CPUUtilization) are available by default without the CloudWatch agent. The agent is only needed for custom metrics or OS-level statistics.
- ✗
The threshold is set too high for the metric
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. A high threshold would lead to an OK state if data is present and below the threshold, not INSUFFICIENT_DATA.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Basic vs. Detailed Monitoring
- INSUFFICIENT_DATA
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
Basic vs. Detailed Monitoring
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Basic vs. Detailed Monitoring Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review basic vs. Detailed Monitoring, then practise related DVA-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
- →
Troubleshooting and Optimization — study guide chapter
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Troubleshooting and Optimization practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DVA-C02 question test?
Troubleshooting and Optimization — This question tests Troubleshooting and Optimization — Basic vs. Detailed Monitoring.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The EC2 instance is stopped — The INSUFFICIENT_DATA state indicates that CloudWatch has not received any metric data for the alarm. For basic EC2 metrics like CPUUtilization, data is automatically sent to CloudWatch every 5 minutes by default. If the instance is stopped, no data is sent, leading to INSUFFICIENT_DATA. Option C is incorrect because the CloudWatch agent is not needed for basic metrics; it is required only for custom or OS-level metrics. Therefore, the most likely cause is that the EC2 instance is stopped.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?
Review basic vs. Detailed Monitoring, then practise related DVA-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Basic vs. Detailed Monitoring
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This DVA-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 DVA-C02 exam.
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