- A
Use AWS Config with a managed rule to detect and auto-remediate.
Correct. AWS Config with the 'restricted-ssh' managed rule can detect non-compliant security groups and trigger auto-remediation, such as removing overly permissive rules or replacing them with restricted ones. This is the most scalable and integrated approach.
- B
Apply a service control policy (SCP) to deny opening port 22.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Service Control Policies (SCPs) are used to control permissions at the AWS organization level and cannot directly modify or restrict security group rules. They affect IAM actions, not network configurations.
- C
Manually update each security group to restrict SSH to known IPs.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Manually updating each security group is not scalable, especially in large environments with many instances and security groups. It is error-prone and does not provide ongoing compliance monitoring.
- D
Use CloudWatch Events to trigger a Lambda function that modifies security groups.
Why wrong: Incorrect. While a Lambda function triggered by CloudWatch Events could be used to modify security groups, this requires custom code and is more complex to manage than AWS Config's built-in managed rule and remediation actions.
Remediate Overly Permissive Security Groups — AWS Config | AWS DevOps Engineer Professional Explained
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. 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 security audit reveals that EC2 instances have security groups with overly permissive inbound rules allowing all traffic (0.0.0.0/0) on SSH port 22. What is the BEST way to remediate this at scale?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Use AWS Config with a managed rule to detect and auto-remediate.
Option A is correct because AWS Config with the managed rule 'restricted-ssh' can detect and auto-remediate non-compliant security groups. Option B is wrong because service control policies (SCPs) do not control security group rules directly; they apply to IAM actions. Option C is wrong because manually updating each security group is not scalable across many instances. Option D is wrong because while a Lambda function triggered by CloudWatch Events could modify security groups, AWS Config provides a built-in, easier-to-manage remediation solution.
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.
- ✓
Use AWS Config with a managed rule to detect and auto-remediate.
Why this is correct
Correct. AWS Config with the 'restricted-ssh' managed rule can detect non-compliant security groups and trigger auto-remediation, such as removing overly permissive rules or replacing them with restricted ones. This is the most scalable and integrated approach.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- ✗
Apply a service control policy (SCP) to deny opening port 22.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Service Control Policies (SCPs) are used to control permissions at the AWS organization level and cannot directly modify or restrict security group rules. They affect IAM actions, not network configurations.
- ✗
Manually update each security group to restrict SSH to known IPs.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Manually updating each security group is not scalable, especially in large environments with many instances and security groups. It is error-prone and does not provide ongoing compliance monitoring.
- ✗
Use CloudWatch Events to trigger a Lambda function that modifies security groups.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. While a Lambda function triggered by CloudWatch Events could be used to modify security groups, this requires custom code and is more complex to manage than AWS Config's built-in managed rule and remediation actions.
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 company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
Quick reference
Cloud Service Model Comparison
| Model | You Manage | Provider Manages | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| IaaS | OS, runtime, apps, data | Hardware, hypervisor, networking | EC2, Azure VMs, GCP Compute Engine |
| PaaS | Apps and data | OS, runtime, middleware, hardware | Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Data and settings only | Everything else | Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Workday |
| FaaS / Serverless | Function code only | Infra, scaling, runtime | Lambda, Azure Functions, Cloud Run |
| CaaS | Containers and apps | Kubernetes, OS, hardware | EKS, AKS, GKE |
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.
- →
Security and Compliance — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Security and Compliance practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this DOP-C02 question test?
Security and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use AWS Config with a managed rule to detect and auto-remediate. — Option A is correct because AWS Config with the managed rule 'restricted-ssh' can detect and auto-remediate non-compliant security groups. Option B is wrong because service control policies (SCPs) do not control security group rules directly; they apply to IAM actions. Option C is wrong because manually updating each security group is not scalable across many instances. Option D is wrong because while a Lambda function triggered by CloudWatch Events could modify security groups, AWS Config provides a built-in, easier-to-manage remediation solution.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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