The answer is to enable AWS Control Tower and configure Account Factory to provision accounts with a baseline blueprint containing the VPC and Config rules. This is the most efficient approach because Account Factory is purpose-built to automate baseline config for new accounts in AWS Organizations, applying guardrails and a customizable network blueprint every time an account is created, without requiring custom code. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of centralized governance versus point solutions—a common trap is to over-engineer with Lambda and StackSets when a managed service like Control Tower already handles the lifecycle. Remember that Service Control Policies (SCPs) only deny actions, and Config conformance packs deploy rules but cannot create infrastructure like VPCs. Memory tip: Think of Control Tower as the “blueprint factory” for new accounts—it builds the house and enforces the rules, so you don’t have to hammer each nail yourself.
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 is using AWS Organizations with a hierarchical OU structure. The security team wants to enforce that any new account created in the organization automatically inherits a baseline set of AWS Config rules and a VPC with a default CIDR block. What is the MOST efficient way 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 Control Tower and configure Account Factory to provision accounts with a baseline blueprint containing the VPC and Config rules.
Option B is correct because AWS Control Tower provides Account Factory and guardrails to automatically apply baselines to new accounts. Option A (Lambda + CloudFormation StackSets) requires custom code and is less integrated. Option C (SCPs) can only deny actions, not create resources. Option D (AWS Config conformance packs) can deploy rules but cannot create VPCs.
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 CloudFormation StackSets with a stack that creates the VPC and Config rules, and trigger it via an SCP.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs cannot trigger StackSets; this requires custom automation.
✗
Create an SCP that denies creation of resources unless they comply with the baseline.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs can only deny actions, not proactively create resources.
✓
Enable AWS Control Tower and configure Account Factory to provision accounts with a baseline blueprint containing the VPC and Config rules.
Why this is correct
Control Tower automates account provisioning with pre-defined guardrails and blueprints.
Use AWS Config conformance packs with YAML templates deployed to all accounts via an SCP.
Why it's wrong here
Conformance packs can deploy Config rules but cannot create VPCs.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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.
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: Enable AWS Control Tower and configure Account Factory to provision accounts with a baseline blueprint containing the VPC and Config rules. — Option B is correct because AWS Control Tower provides Account Factory and guardrails to automatically apply baselines to new accounts. Option A (Lambda + CloudFormation StackSets) requires custom code and is less integrated. Option C (SCPs) can only deny actions, not create resources. Option D (AWS Config conformance packs) can deploy rules but cannot create VPCs.
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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