The correct approach is to use AWS CloudFormation StackSets to automatically apply baseline security controls to new AWS accounts. This works because StackSets enable you to deploy identical CloudFormation stacks across multiple accounts and regions from a single template, and when integrated with AWS Organizations, they can be configured to automatically deploy to new accounts as they are added. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of the distinction between governance tools: Service Control Policies (SCPs) only restrict permissions and cannot deploy resources, while StackSets are the proper mechanism for automated resource deployment. A common trap is confusing SCPs with resource deployment—remember that SCPs are like guardrails, not construction crews. For your memory tip: think "StackSets stack resources, SCPs stack restrictions."
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 wants to implement a multi-account strategy using AWS Organizations. The security team requires that all new accounts added to the organization automatically inherit a baseline set of security controls, such as AWS CloudTrail and AWS Config rules. Which approach should the company use?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use AWS CloudFormation StackSets to deploy the baseline stack to new accounts automatically.
Option C is correct because AWS CloudFormation StackSets allow you to deploy stacks across multiple accounts and regions from a single template, which can be automated to apply to new accounts. Option A is wrong because Service Control Policies (SCPs) are used to restrict permissions, not to deploy resources. Option B is wrong because AWS Config aggregators only collect configuration data, not deploy resources. Option D is wrong because AWS Systems Manager is primarily for operational management, not automated resource deployment across accounts.
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 Organizations Service Control Policies (SCPs) to enforce the baseline controls.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs are for permission boundaries, not for deploying resources.
✗
Use AWS Systems Manager Automation to apply the baseline to new accounts.
Why it's wrong here
Systems Manager Automation is not designed for multi-account resource deployment.
✓
Use AWS CloudFormation StackSets to deploy the baseline stack to new accounts automatically.
Why this is correct
StackSets can deploy stacks across multiple accounts and regions, and can be set to automatically apply to new accounts.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use AWS Config aggregators to apply the baseline controls to new accounts.
Why it's wrong here
AWS Config aggregators collect data, they don't deploy resources.
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: Use AWS CloudFormation StackSets to deploy the baseline stack to new accounts automatically. — Option C is correct because AWS CloudFormation StackSets allow you to deploy stacks across multiple accounts and regions from a single template, which can be automated to apply to new accounts. Option A is wrong because Service Control Policies (SCPs) are used to restrict permissions, not to deploy resources. Option B is wrong because AWS Config aggregators only collect configuration data, not deploy resources. Option D is wrong because AWS Systems Manager is primarily for operational management, not automated resource deployment across accounts.
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.
About these practice questions
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A multinational company is implementing a multi-account strategy using AWS Organizations. The security team needs to ensure that all newly created accounts automatically have a specific baseline CloudTrail trail and a set of AWS Config rules applied. The company also wants to enforce that no account can disable these controls. Which solution should be used?
hard
✓ A.Create an SCP that denies actions to disable CloudTrail and AWS Config, and use AWS CloudFormation StackSets to deploy the baseline resources to all accounts in the organization.
B.Use IAM roles with a trust policy that allows the management account to deploy CloudTrail and AWS Config, and use AWS Lambda to monitor for changes.
C.Use AWS Control Tower to set up the baseline and enforce it via preventive guardrails.
D.Use AWS Organizations to create an SCP that deploys AWS Config rules and CloudTrail via AWS CloudFormation StackSets.
Why A: Option A is correct because it combines an SCP that denies actions to disable CloudTrail and AWS Config (e.g., `cloudtrail:StopLogging`, `config:DeleteConfigRule`) with AWS CloudFormation StackSets to deploy the baseline resources across all accounts in the organization. The SCP enforces that no account (including root users) can disable the controls, while StackSets automatically deploy the CloudTrail trail and Config rules to new accounts as they join the organization. This meets both the automatic deployment and enforcement requirements.
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This SAP-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SAP-C02 exam.
Question Discussion
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