The correct solution is to deploy the application on Amazon EC2 instances joined to an AWS Managed Microsoft AD directory. This approach allows the .NET application to continue using Windows Authentication against Active Directory with minimal code changes because the EC2 instances become domain members, inheriting the existing Kerberos and NTLM trust relationships. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of hybrid identity integration and the trade-offs between managed services and infrastructure-level solutions—a common trap is selecting Amazon Cognito for its user pool features, but Cognito does not support Windows Authentication protocols. Remember that when the requirement is to migrate a .NET application with Windows Authentication to AWS and minimize code changes, the key is to preserve the domain-joined environment rather than refactoring authentication. Memory tip: think “Join to AD, not join a new pool.”
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of accelerate workload migration and modernization. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 company is migrating a legacy on-premises .NET application to AWS. The application uses Windows Authentication and relies on Active Directory. The company wants to minimize code changes. Which solution should the architect recommend?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Deploy the application on Amazon EC2 instances joined to an AWS Managed Microsoft AD directory.
Option B is correct because it allows the application to use Windows Authentication with minimal code changes by joining EC2 instances to a Managed AD domain. Option A is wrong because Cognito is for external user pools, not Windows Auth. Option C is wrong because WorkDocs is for document sharing. Option D is wrong because SSM does not provide AD authentication.
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.
✗
Use AWS Systems Manager to store credentials and inject them at runtime.
Why it's wrong here
Systems Manager Parameter Store does not provide Active Directory authentication capabilities.
✗
Migrate the application to Amazon WorkDocs and configure single sign-on.
Why it's wrong here
WorkDocs is a document management service, not suitable for running .NET applications.
✗
Use Amazon Cognito user pools for authentication.
Why it's wrong here
Cognito is designed for external identity providers and does not support Windows Authentication natively.
✓
Deploy the application on Amazon EC2 instances joined to an AWS Managed Microsoft AD directory.
Why this is correct
EC2 instances joined to Managed AD can use Windows Authentication with minimal changes.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 SAP-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.
Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — This question tests Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Deploy the application on Amazon EC2 instances joined to an AWS Managed Microsoft AD directory. — Option B is correct because it allows the application to use Windows Authentication with minimal code changes by joining EC2 instances to a Managed AD domain. Option A is wrong because Cognito is for external user pools, not Windows Auth. Option C is wrong because WorkDocs is for document sharing. Option D is wrong because SSM does not provide AD authentication.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which SAP-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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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