- A
Install the AWS Systems Manager Agent (SSM Agent) on each EC2 instance in all accounts.
Why wrong: SSM Agent is pre-installed on most Amazon Linux AMIs.
- B
Enable AWS Config in all accounts to track patch compliance.
Why wrong: Config is not required for patching.
- C
Configure the instance profile for each EC2 instance to include the AmazonSSMManagedInstanceCore policy.
Why wrong: The instance profile must include the policy, but it is not automatically configured.
- D
Create an IAM service role for Systems Manager in each member account and attach the AmazonSSMManagedInstanceCore policy.
Required for SSM to manage instances.
- E
Create a maintenance window in the management account and target instances using AWS Resource Groups that span accounts.
Maintenance windows can target cross-account instances.
Quick Answer
The answer is to create a maintenance window in the management account targeting instances across accounts via AWS Resource Groups, and to establish a service role with the necessary permissions in each member account. This works because AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager uses a delegated administrator model where the management account orchestrates patching, but each member account must trust that orchestration through a properly configured service role. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of cross-account Systems Manager automation and the principle of least privilege—a common trap is assuming the SSM agent needs replacement or that instance profiles are auto-created. Remember the mnemonic "MRS" for Management account, Resource Groups, and Service roles to recall the three critical components for centrally manage patching across accounts with Systems Manager.
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 is using AWS Organizations with multiple accounts. The IT team wants to centrally manage AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager to patch EC2 instances across all accounts. Which TWO actions are required?
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
Create an IAM service role for Systems Manager in each member account and attach the AmazonSSMManagedInstanceCore policy.
Options A and C are correct. A: A service role with the necessary permissions must be created in each account. C: A maintenance window in the management account can target instances in member accounts using resource groups. Option B is wrong because the SSM agent does not need to be replaced. Option D is wrong because instance profiles are not automatically created. Option E is wrong because Systems Manager does not use AWS Config for patching.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Install the AWS Systems Manager Agent (SSM Agent) on each EC2 instance in all accounts.
Why it's wrong here
SSM Agent is pre-installed on most Amazon Linux AMIs.
- ✗
Enable AWS Config in all accounts to track patch compliance.
Why it's wrong here
Config is not required for patching.
- ✗
Configure the instance profile for each EC2 instance to include the AmazonSSMManagedInstanceCore policy.
Why it's wrong here
The instance profile must include the policy, but it is not automatically configured.
- ✓
Create an IAM service role for Systems Manager in each member account and attach the AmazonSSMManagedInstanceCore policy.
Why this is correct
Required for SSM to manage instances.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✓
Create a maintenance window in the management account and target instances using AWS Resource Groups that span accounts.
Why this is correct
Maintenance windows can target cross-account instances.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SAP-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
- →
Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — study guide chapter
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Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity practice questions
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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 — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create an IAM service role for Systems Manager in each member account and attach the AmazonSSMManagedInstanceCore policy. — Options A and C are correct. A: A service role with the necessary permissions must be created in each account. C: A maintenance window in the management account can target instances in member accounts using resource groups. Option B is wrong because the SSM agent does not need to be replaced. Option D is wrong because instance profiles are not automatically created. Option E is wrong because Systems Manager does not use AWS Config for patching.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SAP-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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