This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring and logging. 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 runs a web application on Amazon EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer (ALB). The application logs show that some requests are timing out. The team needs to identify the source of the issue. Which TWO steps should they take?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable ALB access logs and analyze them.
Option A is correct because ALB access logs contain detailed request information. Option C is correct because CloudWatch metrics for ALB show request counts per target. Option B is wrong because CloudTrail logs API calls, not application requests. Option D is wrong because VPC Flow Logs show network traffic but not application-level details. Option E is wrong because WAF logs are for web ACLs, not general request tracing.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Enable ALB access logs and analyze them.
Why this is correct
Access logs provide request-level details including response times.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
Enable VPC Flow Logs to capture network traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Flow logs show network flows, not application timeout details.
✗
Enable AWS WAF logs to inspect HTTP requests.
Why it's wrong here
WAF logs are for blocked requests, not general timeouts.
✓
Review CloudWatch metrics for the ALB, such as 'RequestCount' and 'TargetResponseTime'.
Why this is correct
These metrics help identify performance issues per target.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
Enable AWS CloudTrail to log all API calls.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail does not log application traffic.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Flow logs show network flows, not application timeout details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
The first matching ACL entry is used.
There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
→Check inbound versus outbound direction.
→Read the ACL from top to bottom.
→Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related DOP-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Monitoring and Logging — This question tests Monitoring and Logging — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable ALB access logs and analyze them. — Option A is correct because ALB access logs contain detailed request information. Option C is correct because CloudWatch metrics for ALB show request counts per target. Option B is wrong because CloudTrail logs API calls, not application requests. Option D is wrong because VPC Flow Logs show network traffic but not application-level details. Option E is wrong because WAF logs are for web ACLs, not general request tracing.
What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related DOP-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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 →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
This DOP-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 DOP-C02 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.