The answer is AWS CloudFormation StackSets with automatic deployment enabled, because this service is designed to deploy infrastructure as code across multiple AWS accounts and Regions, and the automatic deployment feature specifically applies those resources to new member accounts as they are created within an AWS Organization. This directly meets the requirement to automatically enable an AWS Config rule for S3 bucket default encryption in every new account without manual intervention. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of centralized governance at scale, often contrasting StackSets with Service Control Policies (SCPs), which control permissions but cannot deploy resources like Config rules. A common trap is confusing SCPs with resource deployment, so remember: SCPs say "can't do," StackSets say "deploy now." Memory tip: think "StackSets stack rules across sets of accounts."
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 to manage multiple accounts. The security team requires that all newly created member accounts automatically have an AWS Config rule enabled that checks whether S3 buckets have default encryption enabled. Which solution should be used?
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 with automatic deployment to deploy the AWS Config rule across all accounts in the organization.
Option D is correct because AWS CloudFormation StackSets can deploy the AWS Config rule across all accounts in the organization, and with automatic deployment enabled, it applies to new accounts as they are created. Option A is wrong because AWS Config rules are not automatically applied to new accounts unless set up via delegation. Option B is wrong because Service Control Policies (SCPs) control permissions but cannot directly enable AWS Config rules. Option C is wrong because AWS CloudTrail is for logging API calls, not for deploying Config rules.
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 an SCP in the root to require encryption on S3 buckets.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs only control IAM permissions, not Config rules.
✓
Use AWS CloudFormation StackSets with automatic deployment to deploy the AWS Config rule across all accounts in the organization.
Why this is correct
StackSets with automatic deployment apply templates to new accounts as they join the organization.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Create an AWS Config rule in the management account and delegate an admin account to apply it to all member accounts.
Why it's wrong here
Delegating admin does not automatically apply rules to new accounts.
✗
Configure AWS CloudTrail to automatically enable the AWS Config rule in new accounts.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail does not manage Config rules.
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 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.
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 with automatic deployment to deploy the AWS Config rule across all accounts in the organization. — Option D is correct because AWS CloudFormation StackSets can deploy the AWS Config rule across all accounts in the organization, and with automatic deployment enabled, it applies to new accounts as they are created. Option A is wrong because AWS Config rules are not automatically applied to new accounts unless set up via delegation. Option B is wrong because Service Control Policies (SCPs) control permissions but cannot directly enable AWS Config rules. Option C is wrong because AWS CloudTrail is for logging API calls, not for deploying Config rules.
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
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
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
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.