- A
Immediately terminate the instance to trigger a replacement
Why wrong: Terminating without verification may cause unnecessary disruption.
- B
Verify the instance's system and instance status checks, then consider terminating the instance to allow the Auto Scaling group to launch a new one
This is the correct response to a status check failure.
- C
Do nothing, because the Auto Scaling group will automatically replace the instance
Why wrong: Auto Scaling replaces only if the instance is terminated or marked unhealthy.
- D
Check the security group rules to ensure they allow traffic
Why wrong: Status checks are not affected by security groups.
Question 779 of 1,750
DOP-C02 EC2 Status Checks Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of incident and event response. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. A key principle to apply: eC2 Status Checks. 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 an alarm that an EC2 instance's status check has failed. The instance is part of an Auto Scaling group. How should the engineer respond?
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
✓
Verify the instance's system and instance status checks, then consider terminating the instance to allow the Auto Scaling group to launch a new one
Option B is correct because when an EC2 instance fails status checks, the engineer should first verify the instance's system and instance status checks to understand the issue. If the instance is unhealthy and cannot be recovered, terminating it allows the Auto Scaling group to launch a replacement. Option A is wrong because immediately terminating without investigation may cause unnecessary disruption and could have been avoided. Option C is wrong because the Auto Scaling group does not automatically replace instances based solely on status check failure unless health checks are configured and the instance fails them. Option D is wrong because security group rules affect network traffic, not status checks; status checks are about the instance's health at the OS or hardware level.
Key principle: EC2 Status Checks
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Immediately terminate the instance to trigger a replacement
Why it's wrong here
Terminating without verification may cause unnecessary disruption.
- ✓
Verify the instance's system and instance status checks, then consider terminating the instance to allow the Auto Scaling group to launch a new one
Why this is correct
This is the correct response to a status check failure.
Related concept
EC2 Status Checks
- ✗
Do nothing, because the Auto Scaling group will automatically replace the instance
Why it's wrong here
Auto Scaling replaces only if the instance is terminated or marked unhealthy.
- ✗
Check the security group rules to ensure they allow traffic
Why it's wrong here
Status checks are not affected by security groups.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common trap is thinking that Auto Scaling automatically replaces any failed instance, but by default, Auto Scaling only replaces instances that are terminated or marked unhealthy by ELB health checks, not EC2 status check failures.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- EC2 Status Checks
- Auto Scaling Health Checks
- Instance Health Check Configuration
TExam Day Tips
- 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
EC2 Status Checks
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review eC2 Status Checks, then practise related DOP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
- →
Incident and Event Response — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Incident and Event Response practice questions
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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 — EC2 Status Checks.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Verify the instance's system and instance status checks, then consider terminating the instance to allow the Auto Scaling group to launch a new one — Option B is correct because when an EC2 instance fails status checks, the engineer should first verify the instance's system and instance status checks to understand the issue. If the instance is unhealthy and cannot be recovered, terminating it allows the Auto Scaling group to launch a replacement. Option A is wrong because immediately terminating without investigation may cause unnecessary disruption and could have been avoided. Option C is wrong because the Auto Scaling group does not automatically replace instances based solely on status check failure unless health checks are configured and the instance fails them. Option D is wrong because security group rules affect network traffic, not status checks; status checks are about the instance's health at the OS or hardware level.
What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?
Review eC2 Status Checks, then practise related DOP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
EC2 Status Checks
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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