- A
Ensure the scaling policy is configured to scale in
Why wrong: Option A is incorrect because scaling in would reduce capacity, which is the opposite of what is needed when CPU is high.
- B
Check the CloudWatch Logs for the instance
Why wrong: Option B is incorrect because CloudWatch Logs are used for application and system logs, not for tracking Auto Scaling actions.
- C
Verify that the CloudWatch alarm is in INSUFFICIENT_DATA state
Why wrong: Option C is incorrect because the alarm is in ALARM state, indicating that the threshold has been breached; INSUFFICIENT_DATA would mean insufficient data to determine state.
- D
Review the Auto Scaling group’s activity history in the EC2 console
Option D is correct because the Auto Scaling group's activity history records all scaling events, including whether a scale-out action was triggered in response to the alarm.
DOP-C02 Auto Scaling activity history Practice Question
This DOP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of incident and event response. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. A key principle to apply: auto Scaling activity history. 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 alert that an Amazon EC2 instance’s CPU utilization has been above 90% for the past hour. The instance is part of an Auto Scaling group with a step scaling policy based on average CPU. The engineer checks the CloudWatch alarm and sees that it is in the ALARM state. What should the engineer do to verify that the Auto Scaling group is scaling out properly?
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
Review the Auto Scaling group’s activity history in the EC2 console
Option D is correct because reviewing the Auto Scaling group's activity history in the EC2 console shows whether scaling actions were triggered and if new instances were launched. The CloudWatch alarm is in ALARM state (indicating high CPU), and the step scaling policy should scale out, so checking the activity history confirms the scaling action occurred. Option A is incorrect because the scaling policy is for scaling out on high CPU, not scaling in. Option B is incorrect because CloudWatch Logs show instance-level logs, not Auto Scaling actions. Option C is incorrect because the alarm is in ALARM state, not INSUFFICIENT_DATA.
Key principle: Auto Scaling activity history
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Ensure the scaling policy is configured to scale in
Why it's wrong here
Option A is incorrect because scaling in would reduce capacity, which is the opposite of what is needed when CPU is high.
- ✗
Check the CloudWatch Logs for the instance
Why it's wrong here
Option B is incorrect because CloudWatch Logs are used for application and system logs, not for tracking Auto Scaling actions.
- ✗
Verify that the CloudWatch alarm is in INSUFFICIENT_DATA state
Why it's wrong here
Option C is incorrect because the alarm is in ALARM state, indicating that the threshold has been breached; INSUFFICIENT_DATA would mean insufficient data to determine state.
- ✓
Review the Auto Scaling group’s activity history in the EC2 console
Why this is correct
Option D is correct because the Auto Scaling group's activity history records all scaling events, including whether a scale-out action was triggered in response to the alarm.
Related concept
Auto Scaling activity history
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
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
- Auto Scaling activity history
- Step scaling policy
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
Auto Scaling activity history
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review auto Scaling activity history, 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
- →
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 — Auto Scaling activity history.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Review the Auto Scaling group’s activity history in the EC2 console — Option D is correct because reviewing the Auto Scaling group's activity history in the EC2 console shows whether scaling actions were triggered and if new instances were launched. The CloudWatch alarm is in ALARM state (indicating high CPU), and the step scaling policy should scale out, so checking the activity history confirms the scaling action occurred. Option A is incorrect because the scaling policy is for scaling out on high CPU, not scaling in. Option B is incorrect because CloudWatch Logs show instance-level logs, not Auto Scaling actions. Option C is incorrect because the alarm is in ALARM state, not INSUFFICIENT_DATA.
What should I do if I get this DOP-C02 question wrong?
Review auto Scaling activity history, then practise related DOP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Auto Scaling activity history
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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