- A
Terminate the instance immediately
Why wrong: Terminating destroys forensic evidence.
- B
Create an AMI of the instance for forensic analysis
Why wrong: Creating an AMI may snapshot the compromise; better to take a snapshot of the root volume instead.
- C
Stop the EC2 instance
Stopping the instance halts any malicious processes.
- D
Update the security group to deny all inbound and outbound traffic
Isolating the instance prevents further network activity.
- E
Remove the IAM role from the instance
Detaching the role revokes permissions to other resources.
Question 343 of 1,750
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.
During a security incident, a DevOps engineer discovers that an EC2 instance has been compromised. The instance has an IAM role with permissions to access S3 and DynamoDB. Which THREE immediate actions should the engineer take to contain the incident?
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
✓
Stop the EC2 instance
To contain the incident, immediate actions should focus on isolating the instance and revoking its permissions to prevent further damage. Stopping the instance (C) preserves its state for later forensics while halting current malicious activity. Updating the security group (D) blocks all network traffic to and from the instance, cutting off communication. Removing the IAM role (E) revokes the instance's access to S3 and DynamoDB, preventing data exfiltration or unauthorized actions. Terminating the instance (A) is not recommended because it destroys volatile data and evidence, hindering investigation. Creating an AMI (B) is a forensic step that should be done after containment; it does not immediately stop the compromise.
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.
- ✗
Terminate the instance immediately
Why it's wrong here
Terminating destroys forensic evidence.
- ✗
Create an AMI of the instance for forensic analysis
Why it's wrong here
Creating an AMI may snapshot the compromise; better to take a snapshot of the root volume instead.
- ✓
Stop the EC2 instance
Why this is correct
Stopping the instance halts any malicious processes.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- ✓
Update the security group to deny all inbound and outbound traffic
Why this is correct
Isolating the instance prevents further network activity.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- ✓
Remove the IAM role from the instance
Why this is correct
Detaching the role revokes permissions to other resources.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
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.
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Incident and Event Response — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DOP-C02 question test?
Incident and Event Response — This question tests Incident and Event Response — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Stop the EC2 instance — To contain the incident, immediate actions should focus on isolating the instance and revoking its permissions to prevent further damage. Stopping the instance (C) preserves its state for later forensics while halting current malicious activity. Updating the security group (D) blocks all network traffic to and from the instance, cutting off communication. Removing the IAM role (E) revokes the instance's access to S3 and DynamoDB, preventing data exfiltration or unauthorized actions. Terminating the instance (A) is not recommended because it destroys volatile data and evidence, hindering investigation. Creating an AMI (B) is a forensic step that should be done after containment; it does not immediately stop the compromise.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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