- A
The EC2 instance does not have an IAM role that allows Inspector to scan it.
Correct. The EC2 instance must have an IAM role (e.g., AmazonInspector-ENI-EC2-Role) that allows Inspector to access and scan it. Without this role, Inspector cannot report findings.
- B
The EC2 instance is in a private subnet without a NAT gateway.
Why wrong: Incorrect. While a NAT gateway may be needed for instances in private subnets to reach the internet, Inspector does not require outbound internet access; it uses the AWS network internally.
- C
The EC2 instance's security group blocks outbound traffic to the Inspector service.
Why wrong: Incorrect. Inspector does not require outbound traffic from the instance; the security group rules do not affect Inspector's ability to scan.
- D
The EC2 instance is not managed by AWS Systems Manager.
Why wrong: Incorrect. The stem explicitly states the instance is managed by AWS Systems Manager, so this option contradicts the given information.
ANS-C01 Network Security, Compliance and Governance Practice Question
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network security, compliance and governance. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 engineer is troubleshooting an issue where Amazon Inspector is not finding any vulnerabilities in an EC2 instance. The instance has the AWS Systems Manager Agent (SSM Agent) installed and is managed by AWS Systems Manager. What is the most likely reason for Inspector not reporting findings?
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.
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
The EC2 instance does not have an IAM role that allows Inspector to scan it.
Amazon Inspector requires an IAM role that grants it permission to assess the EC2 instance. Without such a role, Inspector cannot perform vulnerability scans, even if the SSM Agent is installed and the instance is managed by Systems Manager. The other options are incorrect: the instance is managed by SSM (contradicting D), and missing NAT gateway or security group outbound rules do not prevent Inspector from scanning (Inspector initiates scans internally).
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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 EC2 instance does not have an IAM role that allows Inspector to scan it.
Why this is correct
Correct. The EC2 instance must have an IAM role (e.g., AmazonInspector-ENI-EC2-Role) that allows Inspector to access and scan it. Without this role, Inspector cannot report findings.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- ✗
The EC2 instance is in a private subnet without a NAT gateway.
- ✗
The EC2 instance's security group blocks outbound traffic to the Inspector service.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Inspector does not require outbound traffic from the instance; the security group rules do not affect Inspector's ability to scan.
- ✗
The EC2 instance is not managed by AWS Systems Manager.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The stem explicitly states the instance is managed by AWS Systems Manager, so this option contradicts the given information.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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.
Visual reference
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related ANS-C01 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ANS-C01 question test?
Network Security, Compliance and Governance — This question tests Network Security, Compliance and Governance — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The EC2 instance does not have an IAM role that allows Inspector to scan it. — Amazon Inspector requires an IAM role that grants it permission to assess the EC2 instance. Without such a role, Inspector cannot perform vulnerability scans, even if the SSM Agent is installed and the instance is managed by Systems Manager. The other options are incorrect: the instance is managed by SSM (contradicting D), and missing NAT gateway or security group outbound rules do not prevent Inspector from scanning (Inspector initiates scans internally).
What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related ANS-C01 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
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?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This ANS-C01 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 ANS-C01 exam.
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