- A
AWS OpsWorks for Chef Automate
Why wrong: OpsWorks can manage configurations but State Manager is simpler and more integrated for Systems Manager agents.
- B
AWS Systems Manager State Manager
State Manager can define a desired state configuration and automatically apply it to instances.
- C
AWS Systems Manager Run Command
Why wrong: Run Command executes commands on demand, not on a schedule to maintain desired state.
- D
AWS Config
Why wrong: AWS Config evaluates resource configurations against rules but cannot install software or manage user accounts.
Question 629 of 1,750
DOP-C02 Configuration Management and IaC Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of configuration management and iac. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 team manages a large fleet of EC2 instances using AWS Systems Manager. They want to enforce a consistent configuration across all instances, including installed software packages, firewall rules, and user accounts. The team also needs to audit configuration changes and remediate drift automatically. Which AWS service should the team use?
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
✓
AWS Systems Manager State Manager
AWS Systems Manager State Manager is the correct choice because it is designed to enforce a consistent configuration across EC2 instances by defining and applying desired state configurations (DSCs). It can manage software packages, firewall rules, and user accounts, and it automatically remediates drift by re-applying the desired state on a schedule. This directly meets the requirement for configuration enforcement, auditing, and automated drift remediation.
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.
- ✗
AWS OpsWorks for Chef Automate
Why it's wrong here
OpsWorks can manage configurations but State Manager is simpler and more integrated for Systems Manager agents.
- ✓
AWS Systems Manager State Manager
Why this is correct
State Manager can define a desired state configuration and automatically apply it to instances.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
AWS Systems Manager Run Command
Why it's wrong here
Run Command executes commands on demand, not on a schedule to maintain desired state.
- ✗
AWS Config
Why it's wrong here
AWS Config evaluates resource configurations against rules but cannot install software or manage user accounts.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing AWS Config (which only audits and detects drift) with State Manager (which enforces and remediates drift), leading candidates to choose Config because they focus on the auditing requirement without realizing it lacks enforcement capabilities.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Run Command executes commands on demand, not on a schedule to maintain desired state.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
State Manager uses associations to define a desired state (e.g., via SSM documents or custom scripts) and applies them on a configurable schedule (e.g., every 30 minutes). It leverages the Systems Manager Agent (SSM Agent) on EC2 instances to execute the state enforcement, and it logs all actions to AWS CloudTrail for auditing. A real-world scenario is enforcing a security baseline (e.g., disabling SSH root login) across a fleet of 10,000 instances, where State Manager automatically reapplies the configuration if an instance drifts due to manual changes.
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.
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
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 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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Configuration Management and IaC — study guide chapter
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: AWS Systems Manager State Manager — AWS Systems Manager State Manager is the correct choice because it is designed to enforce a consistent configuration across EC2 instances by defining and applying desired state configurations (DSCs). It can manage software packages, firewall rules, and user accounts, and it automatically remediates drift by re-applying the desired state on a schedule. This directly meets the requirement for configuration enforcement, auditing, and automated drift remediation.
What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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