- A
Ensure that the member accounts have enabled AWS Config in the same region as the aggregator.
Why wrong: Config aggregators can collect from multiple regions, but the aggregator must be authorized per region; however, lack of authorization is more likely the cause.
- B
Check if the member accounts have exceeded the AWS Config resource limits.
Why wrong: Resource limits would affect recording, not the ability to appear in an aggregator.
- C
Check if the AWS Config recorder in the member accounts is configured to record all resource types.
Why wrong: The issue is likely not about resource types because some accounts are not appearing at all.
- D
Verify that the AWS Config aggregator in the security account has the correct authorization to assume a role in each member account.
The aggregator needs cross-account IAM roles to retrieve data; if permissions are missing or incorrect, accounts won't appear.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the security team must verify the AWS Config aggregator in the security account has the correct authorization to assume a role in each member account. This is because an AWS Config aggregator relies on cross-account IAM roles to pull configuration data; even when AWS Config is enabled in member accounts, the aggregator cannot collect snapshots without a properly configured IAM role in each account that grants the security account permission to assume it. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of cross-account aggregation mechanics and the common pitfall of assuming enabling Config alone is sufficient—the aggregator is a separate service that requires explicit role-based trust. A frequent trap is focusing on network connectivity or service quotas when the real issue is missing or misconfigured IAM permissions. Memory tip: think of the aggregator as a guest needing a key (the IAM role) to enter each member account’s house, not just a door that’s unlocked.
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 has a multi-account AWS environment with over 500 accounts. The security team uses AWS Config to evaluate resource compliance across all accounts. They have set up an AWS Config aggregator in the security account to collect configuration snapshots from all member accounts. Recently, the team noticed that some member accounts are not showing up in the aggregator. The accounts are active and have AWS Config enabled. What should the security team do to troubleshoot this issue?
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
Verify that the AWS Config aggregator in the security account has the correct authorization to assume a role in each member account.
Option D is correct because AWS Config aggregators require cross-account authorization to collect configuration data from member accounts. Even if AWS Config is enabled in member accounts, the aggregator in the security account must have the correct IAM role permissions (via an IAM role in each member account) to assume and retrieve configuration snapshots. Without this authorization, the aggregator cannot access the member accounts' data, causing them to not appear.
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.
- ✗
Ensure that the member accounts have enabled AWS Config in the same region as the aggregator.
Why it's wrong here
Config aggregators can collect from multiple regions, but the aggregator must be authorized per region; however, lack of authorization is more likely the cause.
- ✗
Check if the member accounts have exceeded the AWS Config resource limits.
Why it's wrong here
Resource limits would affect recording, not the ability to appear in an aggregator.
- ✗
Check if the AWS Config recorder in the member accounts is configured to record all resource types.
Why it's wrong here
The issue is likely not about resource types because some accounts are not appearing at all.
- ✓
Verify that the AWS Config aggregator in the security account has the correct authorization to assume a role in each member account.
Why this is correct
The aggregator needs cross-account IAM roles to retrieve data; if permissions are missing or incorrect, accounts won't appear.
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 assume enabling AWS Config in member accounts is sufficient, overlooking the critical cross-account authorization step required by the aggregator to pull data from those accounts.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, AWS Config aggregators use a source account authorization model where the aggregator account must have an IAM role in each source account with a trust policy allowing the aggregator's service-linked role to assume it. This role must have permissions to call the `config:GetResourceConfigHistory` and `config:BatchGetResourceConfig` APIs. A common real-world scenario is when member accounts are created via AWS Organizations but the necessary IAM role (e.g., `AWSConfigRoleForOrganizations`) is not automatically deployed, requiring manual or automated provisioning via StackSets.
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.
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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: Verify that the AWS Config aggregator in the security account has the correct authorization to assume a role in each member account. — Option D is correct because AWS Config aggregators require cross-account authorization to collect configuration data from member accounts. Even if AWS Config is enabled in member accounts, the aggregator in the security account must have the correct IAM role permissions (via an IAM role in each member account) to assume and retrieve configuration snapshots. Without this authorization, the aggregator cannot access the member accounts' data, causing them to not appear.
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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