The correct answer requires three steps: enabling AWS Systems Manager in each account, configuring a cross-account IAM role, and using Systems Manager Inventory to collect EC2 instance metadata across all accounts. This works because Systems Manager Inventory is purpose-built to gather instance-level metadata like installed applications, OS patches, and network configurations, and the cross-account role allows a central management account to assume permissions into each member account securely. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish between inventory collection and configuration compliance—a common trap is choosing AWS Config aggregator, which tracks configuration changes and compliance rules, not live instance metadata. CloudWatch is also a distractor because it collects performance metrics, not inventory. Remember the memory tip: “Inventory is Systems Manager’s job; Config tracks config, CloudWatch tracks stats.”
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design solutions for organizational complexity. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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. They need to manage EC2 instance inventory across all accounts. Which THREE steps are necessary to achieve this?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable AWS Systems Manager Inventory in each account.
Option A is correct because AWS Systems Manager Inventory can collect instance metadata. Option C is correct because a cross-account role is needed for Systems Manager to access instances in other accounts. Option E is correct because enabling Systems Manager in each account is required. Option B is wrong because Config aggregator collects configuration data, not inventory metadata. Option D is wrong because CloudWatch only collects metrics.
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.
✗
Configure Amazon CloudWatch agent to send inventory data.
Why it's wrong here
CloudWatch agent does not send inventory data.
✗
Set up an AWS Config aggregator in the management account.
Why it's wrong here
Config aggregator is for configuration items, not inventory.
✓
Enable AWS Systems Manager Inventory in each account.
Why this is correct
Inventory collects instance information.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Create an IAM role in each member account that trusts the central account.
Why this is correct
Cross-account role allows central account to run inventory.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Enable AWS Systems Manager in each account.
Why this is correct
SSM agent must be running on instances.
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.
Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — This question tests Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Enable AWS Systems Manager Inventory in each account. — Option A is correct because AWS Systems Manager Inventory can collect instance metadata. Option C is correct because a cross-account role is needed for Systems Manager to access instances in other accounts. Option E is correct because enabling Systems Manager in each account is required. Option B is wrong because Config aggregator collects configuration data, not inventory metadata. Option D is wrong because CloudWatch only collects metrics.
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.
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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