The answer is Amazon CloudFront with AWS WAF, as this combination provides a robust defense against common web exploits like SQL injection and cross-site scripting at the application layer. AWS WAF acts as a web application firewall that inspects incoming HTTP requests and filters out malicious payloads, while CloudFront integrates seamlessly with WAF to enforce these rules at the edge, blocking threats before they reach the origin server. On the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional DOP-C02 exam, this pairing tests your understanding of edge-based security and the distinction between application-layer protection and infrastructure-layer defenses—a common trap is confusing AWS WAF with Shield Advanced, which handles DDoS protection, not SQL injection or XSS. Remember that WAF is for web exploits, Shield is for volumetric attacks, and Cognito is for authentication, not filtering. A helpful memory tip: "WAF watches the web, Shield shields the server."
DOP-C02 Security and Compliance Practice Question
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.
Which AWS services can be used to protect a web application from common web exploits like SQL injection and cross-site scripting? (Select TWO.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
AWS WAF
AWS WAF is a web application firewall that filters malicious requests. CloudFront can be integrated with WAF to provide protection at the edge. Shield Advanced provides DDoS protection, not application-layer exploits. Cognito is for authentication. Inspector is for vulnerability scanning.
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 WAF
Why this is correct
WAF can inspect HTTP requests and block SQL injection and XSS.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
AWS Shield Advanced
Why it's wrong here
Shield Advanced protects against DDoS attacks, not application exploits.
✓
Amazon CloudFront with AWS WAF
Why this is correct
CloudFront can distribute traffic and integrate WAF for protection at edge locations.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Amazon Inspector
Why it's wrong here
Inspector scans for vulnerabilities, not real-time protection.
✗
Amazon Cognito
Why it's wrong here
Cognito is for authentication, not web application security.
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 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.
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.
Security and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: AWS WAF — AWS WAF is a web application firewall that filters malicious requests. CloudFront can be integrated with WAF to provide protection at the edge. Shield Advanced provides DDoS protection, not application-layer exploits. Cognito is for authentication. Inspector is for vulnerability scanning.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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This DOP-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the DOP-C02 exam.
Question Discussion
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