- A
Use AWS Service Catalog to create a product that launches approved instances, and require developers to launch only through Service Catalog.
Why wrong: Does not prevent direct EC2 launches.
- B
Apply a service control policy (SCP) that denies ec2:RunInstances with an ec2:InstanceType condition key that does not match approved families.
Prevents unauthorized instance types at the organizational level.
- C
Deploy an AWS Config rule that triggers a Lambda function to terminate unauthorized instances.
Why wrong: Reactive, instances can incur cost before termination.
- D
Create an IAM role in each account with a policy that restricts instance types, and require developers to use that role.
Why wrong: Developers could still use other roles.
- E
Use AWS CloudFormation StackSets to deploy an IAM policy across accounts that denies ec2:RunInstances for non-approved types.
Centralized policy deployment.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to use a service control policy (SCP) applied at the AWS Organizations root or OU level, combined with AWS CloudFormation StackSets to deploy an IAM policy across accounts that denies ec2:RunInstances for non-approved types. This works because SCPs act as a centralized guardrail that restricts permissions across all accounts in an organization, using the ec2:InstanceType condition key to block non-approved families like t3 and m5, while StackSets ensure consistent IAM policy deployment at the account level for granular control. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how SCPs differ from IAM policies—SCPs set boundaries that account administrators cannot override, making them ideal for cross-account restrictions. A common trap is choosing only an IAM policy without the SCP, which fails because IAM policies can be modified by local admins. Memory tip: think of SCPs as the “bouncer at the door” that blocks unauthorized instance types before they even reach account-level IAM.
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 wants to centrally manage IAM permissions across multiple AWS accounts using AWS Organizations. They need to allow developers to launch EC2 instances but restrict the instance types to approved families (e.g., t3 and m5). Which TWO solutions meet this requirement?
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
Apply a service control policy (SCP) that denies ec2:RunInstances with an ec2:InstanceType condition key that does not match approved families.
Option B is correct because a service control policy (SCP) applied at the AWS Organizations root or OU level can centrally deny ec2:RunInstances for non-approved instance types using the ec2:InstanceType condition key. This enforces the restriction across all accounts without requiring per-account IAM changes, and SCPs act as a guardrail that cannot be overridden by account administrators.
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 Service Catalog to create a product that launches approved instances, and require developers to launch only through Service Catalog.
Why it's wrong here
Does not prevent direct EC2 launches.
- ✓
Apply a service control policy (SCP) that denies ec2:RunInstances with an ec2:InstanceType condition key that does not match approved families.
Why this is correct
Prevents unauthorized instance types at the organizational level.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Deploy an AWS Config rule that triggers a Lambda function to terminate unauthorized instances.
Why it's wrong here
Reactive, instances can incur cost before termination.
- ✗
Create an IAM role in each account with a policy that restricts instance types, and require developers to use that role.
Why it's wrong here
Developers could still use other roles.
- ✓
Use AWS CloudFormation StackSets to deploy an IAM policy across accounts that denies ec2:RunInstances for non-approved types.
Why this is correct
Centralized policy deployment.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse detective controls (like AWS Config rules) with preventive controls (like SCPs), or assume that IAM roles or Service Catalog alone can enforce restrictions across all access methods without additional guardrails.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SCPs use AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) policy language but are applied at the organization level, affecting all principals in the account, including the root user. The ec2:InstanceType condition key supports wildcard patterns (e.g., t3.*, m5.*) to match families, and the Deny effect with a NotCondition or StringNotLike operator ensures only approved families are allowed. This approach is preventive and immutable by account administrators, making it ideal for centralized governance.
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.
TExam Day Tips
- 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Apply a service control policy (SCP) that denies ec2:RunInstances with an ec2:InstanceType condition key that does not match approved families. — Option B is correct because a service control policy (SCP) applied at the AWS Organizations root or OU level can centrally deny ec2:RunInstances for non-approved instance types using the ec2:InstanceType condition key. This enforces the restriction across all accounts without requiring per-account IAM changes, and SCPs act as a guardrail that cannot be overridden by account administrators.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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