Troubleshooting AWS Config Advanced Query: No Data Returned
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring and logging. 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.
Exhibit
AWS Config advanced query:
SELECT
resourceId,
resourceType,
configuration.instanceType,
configuration.imageId,
configuration.state.name
WHERE
resourceType = 'AWS::EC2::Instance'
AND configuration.state.name IN ('running', 'stopped')
AND configuration.imageId NOT IN (
SELECT configuration.imageId FROM aws_config_resource_relationship
WHERE resourceType = 'AWS::EC2::Image'
AND relationships.relationName = 'IsAttachedTo'
)
Result: 0 rows returned.
Refer to the exhibit. The AWS Config advanced query is intended to find EC2 instances that are not using a registered AMI. However, it returns zero rows. Which is the most likely reason?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Exhibit
AWS Config advanced query:
SELECT
resourceId,
resourceType,
configuration.instanceType,
configuration.imageId,
configuration.state.name
WHERE
resourceType = 'AWS::EC2::Instance'
AND configuration.state.name IN ('running', 'stopped')
AND configuration.imageId NOT IN (
SELECT configuration.imageId FROM aws_config_resource_relationship
WHERE resourceType = 'AWS::EC2::Image'
AND relationships.relationName = 'IsAttachedTo'
)
Result: 0 rows returned.
A
The resource relationship table does not contain AMI-to-instance relationships.
AWS Config does not capture the relationship between EC2 instances and their AMIs in the resource relationship table. Therefore, the subquery returns empty, and NOT IN evaluates to true for all instances, but the subquery returns no rows, so the condition is always true? Actually, if subquery returns empty, NOT IN is always true, so all instances would be returned. But the query returns zero rows, meaning something else is wrong. Possibly the resource type for AMI is 'AWS::EC2::Image' but the relationship might not exist. The most likely reason is that the relationship is not tracked.
B
All instances are using registered AMIs, so the condition is never met.
Why wrong: Possible but unlikely; the query is designed to find non-compliant instances.
C
The query syntax is incorrect; the subquery must use 'EXISTS' instead of 'IN'.
Why wrong: The syntax is valid; NOT IN with a subquery is supported.
D
The 'configuration.imageId' field is not available in the resource configuration.
Why wrong: The imageId is a standard field for EC2 instances in AWS Config.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The resource relationship table does not contain AMI-to-instance relationships.
The subquery tries to find image IDs that are not in the relationship table. However, the relationship table 'aws_config_resource_relationship' may not contain entries for all AMIs, or the relationship 'IsAttachedTo' might not be the correct name. Additionally, the subquery might be returning all image IDs that have any relationship, causing the NOT IN to exclude instances that use those AMIs. But the most likely reason is that the resource relationship table does not have the expected data because Config does not track AMI-to-instance relationships in that way.
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.
✓
The resource relationship table does not contain AMI-to-instance relationships.
Why this is correct
AWS Config does not capture the relationship between EC2 instances and their AMIs in the resource relationship table. Therefore, the subquery returns empty, and NOT IN evaluates to true for all instances, but the subquery returns no rows, so the condition is always true? Actually, if subquery returns empty, NOT IN is always true, so all instances would be returned. But the query returns zero rows, meaning something else is wrong. Possibly the resource type for AMI is 'AWS::EC2::Image' but the relationship might not exist. The most likely reason is that the relationship is not tracked.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
All instances are using registered AMIs, so the condition is never met.
Why it's wrong here
Possible but unlikely; the query is designed to find non-compliant instances.
✗
The query syntax is incorrect; the subquery must use 'EXISTS' instead of 'IN'.
Why it's wrong here
The syntax is valid; NOT IN with a subquery is supported.
✗
The 'configuration.imageId' field is not available in the resource configuration.
Why it's wrong here
The imageId is a standard field for EC2 instances in AWS Config.
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
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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.
Monitoring and Logging — This question tests Monitoring and Logging — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The resource relationship table does not contain AMI-to-instance relationships. — The subquery tries to find image IDs that are not in the relationship table. However, the relationship table 'aws_config_resource_relationship' may not contain entries for all AMIs, or the relationship 'IsAttachedTo' might not be the correct name. Additionally, the subquery might be returning all image IDs that have any relationship, causing the NOT IN to exclude instances that use those AMIs. But the most likely reason is that the resource relationship table does not have the expected data because Config does not track AMI-to-instance relationships in that way.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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