- A
Enable termination protection on the stack.
Why wrong: Termination protection can be disabled by users with sufficient permissions.
- B
Implement a manual review process for all stack deletion requests.
Why wrong: Manual process is slow and depends on human vigilance.
- C
Apply a Service Control Policy that denies the cloudformation:DeleteStack action.
SCPs can prevent deletion across the entire account, with exceptions for authorized roles via permissions boundaries.
- D
Use an IAM policy that denies DeleteStack for all users.
Why wrong: An IAM policy is not effective against users with administrative privileges.
DOP-C02 Configuration Management and IaC Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of configuration management and iac. 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 startup uses AWS CloudFormation to manage its infrastructure. The team stores stack templates in an S3 bucket and creates stacks using the AWS CLI. Recently, a developer accidentally deleted a CloudFormation stack, causing a production outage. The team wants to prevent accidental stack deletions while allowing authorized users to delete stacks after approval. What is the MOST effective solution?
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
Apply a Service Control Policy that denies the cloudformation:DeleteStack action.
Option C is the most effective because a Service Control Policy (SCP) can deny the cloudformation:DeleteStack action at the AWS Organizations level, which applies even to the root user and all IAM users/roles in the account. This prevents accidental deletion by any user, including administrators, without needing to rely on a manual process. In contrast, option A (termination protection) can be disabled by users with permission to update the stack, option B (manual review) is not automated and depends on human compliance, and option D (IAM policy) can be bypassed by users with full administrative privileges.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Enable termination protection on the stack.
Why it's wrong here
Termination protection can be disabled by users with sufficient permissions.
- ✗
Implement a manual review process for all stack deletion requests.
Why it's wrong here
Manual process is slow and depends on human vigilance.
- ✓
Apply a Service Control Policy that denies the cloudformation:DeleteStack action.
Why this is correct
SCPs can prevent deletion across the entire account, with exceptions for authorized roles via permissions boundaries.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✗
Use an IAM policy that denies DeleteStack for all users.
Why it's wrong here
An IAM policy is not effective against users with administrative privileges.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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 Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related DOP-C02 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
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Configuration Management and IaC — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DOP-C02 question test?
Configuration Management and IaC — This question tests Configuration Management and IaC — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Apply a Service Control Policy that denies the cloudformation:DeleteStack action. — Option C is the most effective because a Service Control Policy (SCP) can deny the cloudformation:DeleteStack action at the AWS Organizations level, which applies even to the root user and all IAM users/roles in the account. This prevents accidental deletion by any user, including administrators, without needing to rely on a manual process. In contrast, option A (termination protection) can be disabled by users with permission to update the stack, option B (manual review) is not automated and depends on human compliance, and option D (IAM policy) can be bypassed by users with full administrative privileges.
What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related DOP-C02 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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