- A
Use AWS Service Catalog to create a product that deploys the VPC, and share the portfolio with each account.
Why wrong: Service Catalog does not easily support per-account parameters at scale; it requires manual launches.
- B
Create a StackSet that references an Amazon S3 bucket containing a JSON file with account-specific parameters, including unique CIDR blocks for each account.
This allows each account to have a unique CIDR without manual intervention.
- C
Write a custom AWS Lambda function that iterates through each account and deploys the CloudFormation template with a different CIDR.
Why wrong: This approach is less scalable and harder to maintain than StackSets with parameter files.
- D
Create a StackSet with a single parameter for the CIDR block and deploy it to all accounts.
Why wrong: A single CIDR would cause overlap if accounts already have VPCs using that CIDR.
Quick Answer
The answer is to create a StackSet that references an Amazon S3 bucket containing a JSON file with account-specific parameters, including unique CIDR blocks for each account. This approach is correct because AWS CloudFormation StackSets natively support overriding parameters per account or per organizational unit by referencing a structured parameter file stored in S3, allowing you to deploy a unique VPC CIDR per account without manual intervention. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of scalable multi-account automation using StackSets and parameter files, a common trap being the assumption that a single CIDR can be applied universally or that Lambda functions are needed for simple parameter variation. The key insight is that StackSets can dynamically inject account-specific values from an external file, making the solution both scalable and automated. Memory tip: think "StackSet + S3 parameter file = per-account uniqueness without Lambda overhead."
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design solutions for organizational complexity. 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.
A company uses AWS Organizations with 50 accounts. The central IT team wants to deploy a CloudFormation stack set to create a VPC with a CIDR of 10.0.0.0/16 in each account, but the VPC CIDR must not overlap with existing VPCs in each account. What is the most scalable and automated approach?
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
Create a StackSet that references an Amazon S3 bucket containing a JSON file with account-specific parameters, including unique CIDR blocks for each account.
Option B is correct because AWS CloudFormation StackSets can use account-specific parameters via a parameter file in Amazon S3, allowing each account to have a unique CIDR. Option A is wrong because it uses a single CIDR for all accounts, causing overlap. Option C is wrong because AWS Service Catalog does not handle dynamic CIDR assignment across many accounts. Option D is wrong because a custom Lambda function per account is not scalable.
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.
- ✗
Use AWS Service Catalog to create a product that deploys the VPC, and share the portfolio with each account.
Why it's wrong here
Service Catalog does not easily support per-account parameters at scale; it requires manual launches.
- ✓
Create a StackSet that references an Amazon S3 bucket containing a JSON file with account-specific parameters, including unique CIDR blocks for each account.
- ✗
Write a custom AWS Lambda function that iterates through each account and deploys the CloudFormation template with a different CIDR.
Why it's wrong here
This approach is less scalable and harder to maintain than StackSets with parameter files.
- ✗
Create a StackSet with a single parameter for the CIDR block and deploy it to all accounts.
Why it's wrong here
A single CIDR would cause overlap if accounts already have VPCs using that CIDR.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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 SAP-C02 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
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Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — This question tests Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a StackSet that references an Amazon S3 bucket containing a JSON file with account-specific parameters, including unique CIDR blocks for each account. — Option B is correct because AWS CloudFormation StackSets can use account-specific parameters via a parameter file in Amazon S3, allowing each account to have a unique CIDR. Option A is wrong because it uses a single CIDR for all accounts, causing overlap. Option C is wrong because AWS Service Catalog does not handle dynamic CIDR assignment across many accounts. Option D is wrong because a custom Lambda function per account is not scalable.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 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 SAP-C02 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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