The answer is to place the instance into an Auto Scaling group with a scale-out policy based on CPU utilization. This is the correct immediate response because it leverages horizontal scaling to absorb the increased load without downtime, allowing the Auto Scaling group to launch additional EC2 instances when the CloudWatch alarm triggers, thereby distributing traffic and stabilizing performance for the critical web app. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of operational resilience versus reactive fixes—common traps include rebooting (which causes downtime) or resizing the instance (which requires a stop/start), both of which fail the “immediate response” requirement. The key insight is that Auto Scaling provides automated, zero-downtime elasticity, while manual actions like creating a new AMI are too slow for a high CPU emergency. Memory tip: “Scale out, not shut down” — when CPU spikes, add more servers, don’t stop the one you have.
DOP-C02 Incident and Event Response Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of incident and event response. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 DevOps engineer receives a CloudWatch alarm that an EC2 instance's CPU utilization has exceeded 90% for 10 minutes. The instance hosts a critical web application. What is the MOST appropriate immediate response to mitigate performance impact?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Place the instance into an Auto Scaling group with a scale-out policy based on CPU utilization.
Option A is correct because adding the instance to an Auto Scaling group with a scaling policy to launch additional instances can handle increased load. Option B is wrong because rebooting causes downtime and does not address the root cause of high CPU. Option C is wrong because increasing the instance size manually requires a stop and start, causing downtime. Option D is wrong because creating a new AMI and launching a new instance is time-consuming and not immediate.
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.
✗
Reboot the EC2 instance to clear any temporary processes.
Why it's wrong here
Rebooting causes downtime and does not address sustained high CPU.
✓
Place the instance into an Auto Scaling group with a scale-out policy based on CPU utilization.
Why this is correct
Auto Scaling can automatically launch new instances to distribute the load.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Create a new AMI from the instance and launch a new larger instance.
Why it's wrong here
This is a lengthy process and not an immediate response.
✗
Stop the instance and change its type to a larger instance size.
Why it's wrong here
This requires stopping the instance, causing downtime.
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
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which DOP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Incident and Event Response — This question tests Incident and Event Response — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Place the instance into an Auto Scaling group with a scale-out policy based on CPU utilization. — Option A is correct because adding the instance to an Auto Scaling group with a scaling policy to launch additional instances can handle increased load. Option B is wrong because rebooting causes downtime and does not address the root cause of high CPU. Option C is wrong because increasing the instance size manually requires a stop and start, causing downtime. Option D is wrong because creating a new AMI and launching a new instance is time-consuming and not immediate.
What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which DOP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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
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