The correct approach is to use a service control policy (SCP) that denies EC2 RunInstances unless the AMI ID matches the approved list. This works because SCPs operate at the AWS Organizations root, OU, or account level to centrally enforce permissions across all 200 accounts, blocking any non-compliant EC2 launch before it occurs. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of preventive versus detective controls—AWS Config rules can detect non-approved AMIs but cannot block them, making SCPs the only scalable enforcement mechanism for multi-account environments. A common trap is choosing IAM policies, but those are per-account and can be overridden by account administrators, whereas SCPs cannot be bypassed by child accounts. Remember the memory tip: SCPs are the “bouncer at the door” that denies entry to unapproved AMIs, while Config is just the “security camera” that logs the violation.
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design solutions for organizational complexity. 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 company uses AWS Organizations with 200 accounts. The security team wants to enforce that all EC2 instances launched in any account must use a specific Amazon Machine Image (AMI) ID that is approved by the security team. Which approach should be used?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use a service control policy (SCP) that denies EC2 RunInstances unless the AMI ID matches the approved list
Option A is correct because SCPs can deny EC2 RunInstances if the AMI ID is not in a list. Option B is wrong because Config rules can detect but not enforce. Option C is wrong because IAM policies are per-account and can be overridden. Option D is wrong because CloudFormation cannot enforce non-CloudFormation launches.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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 IAM policies in each account to restrict the AMI ID
Why it's wrong here
IAM policies can be bypassed if the user has permission to pass a different AMI.
✗
Use AWS Config rules with auto-remediation to stop non-compliant instances
Why it's wrong here
This is reactive and instances may run for a short time before being stopped.
✓
Use a service control policy (SCP) that denies EC2 RunInstances unless the AMI ID matches the approved list
Why this is correct
SCPs can centrally control which AMIs can be used across all accounts.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
Use CloudFormation StackSets to enforce AMI IDs for all new instances
Why it's wrong here
Only instances launched via CloudFormation would be affected.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
The first matching ACL entry is used.
There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
→Check inbound versus outbound direction.
→Read the ACL from top to bottom.
→Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SAP-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — This question tests Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a service control policy (SCP) that denies EC2 RunInstances unless the AMI ID matches the approved list — Option A is correct because SCPs can deny EC2 RunInstances if the AMI ID is not in a list. Option B is wrong because Config rules can detect but not enforce. Option C is wrong because IAM policies are per-account and can be overridden. Option D is wrong because CloudFormation cannot enforce non-CloudFormation launches.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SAP-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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