- A
Use CloudFormation change sets and require that they be manually executed by a senior engineer.
Why wrong: This relies on process, not automation; a junior can still create and execute change sets if they have permissions.
- B
Create an IAM policy that denies cloudformation:UpdateStack unless the request is made using a specific service role with a path /ci-cp/, and configure the CI/CD pipeline to assume that role.
This enforces that only the CI/CD pipeline can perform updates, and the service role can be tightly controlled.
- C
Attach a resource-based policy to the stack that denies updates from any principal that does not have a specific tag.
Why wrong: CloudFormation stacks do not support resource-based policies.
- D
Enable termination protection on all production stacks and require MFA for stack updates.
Why wrong: Termination protection prevents deletion, not updates; MFA does not enforce approval workflow.
DOP-C02 Security and Compliance Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. 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 uses AWS CloudFormation to manage infrastructure as code. The security team requires that all changes to CloudFormation stacks be reviewed and approved before execution. The team has enabled StackSets to deploy stacks across multiple accounts. A junior developer accidentally runs a stack update that modifies a production security group, opening SSH access to 0.0.0.0/0. The security team wants to prevent this type of incident in the future. They need a solution that enforces a mandatory approval workflow for all stack updates, while still allowing automated deployments from approved CI/CD pipelines. Which solution meets these requirements?
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 an IAM policy that denies cloudformation:UpdateStack unless the request is made using a specific service role with a path /ci-cp/, and configure the CI/CD pipeline to assume that role.
Option C is correct because using a service role with a specific path and condition in the IAM policy ensures that only approved CI/CD roles can assume the service role to perform stack operations. Additionally, using StackSets with approval workflows via Service Catalog or custom approval steps can enforce review. Option A is incorrect because enabling termination protection does not prevent updates. Option B is incorrect because using a change set with manual approval is not automated and does not prevent the developer from using the same role to execute the change set without approval. Option D is incorrect because IAM policies cannot prevent a user from making changes directly; they can only allow or deny actions. A blanket deny would block all updates.
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.
- ✗
Use CloudFormation change sets and require that they be manually executed by a senior engineer.
Why it's wrong here
This relies on process, not automation; a junior can still create and execute change sets if they have permissions.
- ✓
Create an IAM policy that denies cloudformation:UpdateStack unless the request is made using a specific service role with a path /ci-cp/, and configure the CI/CD pipeline to assume that role.
Why this is correct
This enforces that only the CI/CD pipeline can perform updates, and the service role can be tightly controlled.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Attach a resource-based policy to the stack that denies updates from any principal that does not have a specific tag.
Why it's wrong here
CloudFormation stacks do not support resource-based policies.
- ✗
Enable termination protection on all production stacks and require MFA for stack updates.
Why it's wrong here
Termination protection prevents deletion, not updates; MFA does not enforce approval workflow.
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 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 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 an IAM policy that denies cloudformation:UpdateStack unless the request is made using a specific service role with a path /ci-cp/, and configure the CI/CD pipeline to assume that role. — Option C is correct because using a service role with a specific path and condition in the IAM policy ensures that only approved CI/CD roles can assume the service role to perform stack operations. Additionally, using StackSets with approval workflows via Service Catalog or custom approval steps can enforce review. Option A is incorrect because enabling termination protection does not prevent updates. Option B is incorrect because using a change set with manual approval is not automated and does not prevent the developer from using the same role to execute the change set without approval. Option D is incorrect because IAM policies cannot prevent a user from making changes directly; they can only allow or deny actions. A blanket deny would block all updates.
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
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