The answer is to enable AWS Config in all accounts across the organization, then use an AWS Config aggregator in the dedicated security account to centralize compliance visibility. This works because the aggregator collects configuration snapshots and rule compliance data from every member account, giving the security team a single-pane-of-glass view without needing to log into each account individually. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of multi-account governance patterns, specifically how to centralize AWS Config rules across organization accounts without duplicating rule management. A common trap is assuming you must deploy rules manually per account or use a single master rule set; instead, the aggregator simply pulls data from independently enabled Config recorders. The key insight is that centralization here means centralized *monitoring*, not centralized *enforcement*—each account still runs its own Config rules, but the aggregator unifies the results. Memory tip: think of the aggregator as a "compliance telescope"—it doesn't change what each account sees, but it lets you view all the stars from one observatory.
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design solutions for organizational complexity. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 uses AWS Organizations with a dedicated security account. They want to centralize the management of AWS Config rules and ensure that all accounts are compliant with the same set of rules. Which THREE steps should they take?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create an AWS Config aggregator in the security account to view compliance status across accounts.
Option B is correct because an AWS Config aggregator in the security account collects compliance data from all member accounts, providing a centralized view of rule compliance across the organization. This enables the security team to monitor and audit compliance without logging into each account individually.
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.
✗
Apply a service control policy (SCP) that requires AWS Config to be enabled.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs cannot enable services.
✓
Create an AWS Config aggregator in the security account to view compliance status across accounts.
Why this is correct
Centralized dashboard.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Use AWS CloudFormation StackSets to deploy the desired AWS Config rules to all accounts.
Why this is correct
Centralized rule deployment.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Enable AWS Config in all accounts across the organization.
Why this is correct
Required for Config rules to run.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use AWS CloudTrail to monitor compliance status.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail does not provide compliance status for Config.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing service control policies (SCPs) with service enablement; SCPs restrict permissions but cannot automatically enable AWS Config, leading candidates to incorrectly select option A as a way to enforce compliance.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS Config aggregators use the PutConfigurationAggregator API with an OrganizationAggregationSource that specifies the organization ID and optional role ARN, allowing cross-account compliance views without manual setup. The aggregator queries the AWS Config service-linked role in each member account, which must have AWS Config enabled and recording, to aggregate compliance data into the security account.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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.
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: Create an AWS Config aggregator in the security account to view compliance status across accounts. — Option B is correct because an AWS Config aggregator in the security account collects compliance data from all member accounts, providing a centralized view of rule compliance across the organization. This enables the security team to monitor and audit compliance without logging into each account individually.
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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Question Discussion
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