- A
Create a new launch template with an updated AMI that includes the patch. Update the Auto Scaling group to use the new launch template and perform a rolling update.
This replaces instances with patched ones without downtime.
- B
Remove the instance from the Auto Scaling group, disable health checks on the ALB, and apply the patch manually.
Why wrong: Disabling health checks routes traffic to vulnerable instance; manual patching is error-prone.
- C
Use AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager to apply the patch on the instance without rebooting, then verify the vulnerability is resolved.
Why wrong: Patching without reboot may not fully remediate the CVE that requires a reboot.
- D
Stop the vulnerable instance, apply the patch, and start it again. Re-register it with the ALB.
Why wrong: Stopping the instance causes downtime for that instance; if it's the only one, the app goes down.
Quick Answer
The answer is to create a new launch template with an updated AMI that includes the patch, update the Auto Scaling group to use it, and perform a rolling update. This approach remediates the EC2 vulnerability with minimal downtime because the rolling update gradually replaces old instances with new, patched ones behind the Application Load Balancer, ensuring traffic continues flowing without interruption. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of immutable infrastructure patterns—where you replace, not repair, instances to maintain consistency and security. A common trap is choosing to patch the running instance directly, which causes downtime and violates the principle of treating infrastructure as disposable. Remember the memory tip: “Patch the template, not the instance” to quickly recall that launch templates and rolling updates are the key to zero-downtime vulnerability remediation.
DOP-C02 Security and Compliance Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 uses Amazon Inspector to assess the security of EC2 instances. The security team receives an alert that a high-severity vulnerability (CVE-2023-XXXX) was found on an EC2 instance running a critical application. The application is behind an Application Load Balancer (ALB) and uses an Auto Scaling group. The vulnerability has a known patch, but patching requires a reboot. The security team needs to remediate the vulnerability with minimal downtime. Which approach should the team take?
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
Create a new launch template with an updated AMI that includes the patch. Update the Auto Scaling group to use the new launch template and perform a rolling update.
Option A is correct because creating a new launch template with the patched AMI, updating the Auto Scaling group, and performing a rolling update ensures that instances are replaced with minimal downtime. Option B is incorrect because stopping and patching the instance would cause downtime for that specific instance, and it may not be in the Auto Scaling group. Option C is incorrect because using the same AMI but applying a patch user data script may not work reliably and does not ensure a clean state. Option D is incorrect because disabling the ALB health check would cause traffic to be sent to the vulnerable instance, increasing risk.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Create a new launch template with an updated AMI that includes the patch. Update the Auto Scaling group to use the new launch template and perform a rolling update.
Why this is correct
This replaces instances with patched ones without downtime.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Remove the instance from the Auto Scaling group, disable health checks on the ALB, and apply the patch manually.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling health checks routes traffic to vulnerable instance; manual patching is error-prone.
- ✗
Use AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager to apply the patch on the instance without rebooting, then verify the vulnerability is resolved.
Why it's wrong here
Patching without reboot may not fully remediate the CVE that requires a reboot.
- ✗
Stop the vulnerable instance, apply the patch, and start it again. Re-register it with the ALB.
Why it's wrong here
Stopping the instance causes downtime for that instance; if it's the only one, the app goes down.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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. NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DOP-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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Security and Compliance — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DOP-C02 question test?
Security and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a new launch template with an updated AMI that includes the patch. Update the Auto Scaling group to use the new launch template and perform a rolling update. — Option A is correct because creating a new launch template with the patched AMI, updating the Auto Scaling group, and performing a rolling update ensures that instances are replaced with minimal downtime. Option B is incorrect because stopping and patching the instance would cause downtime for that specific instance, and it may not be in the Auto Scaling group. Option C is incorrect because using the same AMI but applying a patch user data script may not work reliably and does not ensure a clean state. Option D is incorrect because disabling the ALB health check would cause traffic to be sent to the vulnerable instance, increasing risk.
What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related DOP-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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.
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