- A
Create an SCP that denies ec2:RunInstances unless the ami id matches an approved list.
SCPs can deny actions based on conditions.
- B
Use AWS Resource Access Manager to share the approved AMI with all accounts.
Why wrong: Sharing AMIs does not enforce their use.
- C
Use AWS Config rules to detect instances launched with non-approved AMIs and trigger remediation.
Config can detect and auto-remediate (e.g., terminate).
- D
Use AWS CloudTrail to monitor instance launches and send alerts.
Why wrong: Alerts do not prevent launches.
- E
Attach an IAM policy to each account's IAM roles that allows only approved AMIs.
Why wrong: IAM policies are not account-wide and may be bypassed by root.
Question 766 of 1,746
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 has a multi-account environment with AWS Organizations. The security team wants to enforce that all EC2 instances must use a specific AMI ID that is approved by the security team. Which two actions should the team take to achieve this? (Choose two.)
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 SCP that denies ec2:RunInstances unless the ami id matches an approved list.
Option A is correct because an SCP in AWS Organizations can deny the ec2:RunInstances action unless the request includes an approved AMI ID, using a condition key like ec2:ImageId. This enforces the policy across all accounts in the organization, preventing any non-approved AMI from being used even by administrators. Option C is correct because AWS Config rules can detect non-compliant instances (e.g., those launched with unapproved AMIs) and trigger an automatic remediation action, such as terminating the instance or sending notifications, providing a detective and corrective control.
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.
- ✓
Create an SCP that denies ec2:RunInstances unless the ami id matches an approved list.
Why this is correct
SCPs can deny actions based on conditions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS Resource Access Manager to share the approved AMI with all accounts.
Why it's wrong here
Sharing AMIs does not enforce their use.
- ✓
Use AWS Config rules to detect instances launched with non-approved AMIs and trigger remediation.
Why this is correct
Config can detect and auto-remediate (e.g., terminate).
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS CloudTrail to monitor instance launches and send alerts.
Why it's wrong here
Alerts do not prevent launches.
- ✗
Attach an IAM policy to each account's IAM roles that allows only approved AMIs.
Why it's wrong here
IAM policies are not account-wide and may be bypassed by root.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse SCPs with IAM policies, thinking IAM policies can enforce organization-wide restrictions, but SCPs are the only mechanism that can deny actions across all accounts in AWS Organizations, including to the root user.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SCPs use condition keys like ec2:ImageId in a Deny statement to block RunInstances if the AMI ID is not in an approved list, and they apply to all principals in the account, including root users. AWS Config rules can be paired with AWS Systems Manager Automation documents to automatically stop or terminate non-compliant instances, providing a closed-loop remediation. A real-world scenario is a financial services company that must ensure all EC2 instances run only hardened, patched AMIs to meet compliance requirements.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — study guide chapter
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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: Create an SCP that denies ec2:RunInstances unless the ami id matches an approved list. — Option A is correct because an SCP in AWS Organizations can deny the ec2:RunInstances action unless the request includes an approved AMI ID, using a condition key like ec2:ImageId. This enforces the policy across all accounts in the organization, preventing any non-approved AMI from being used even by administrators. Option C is correct because AWS Config rules can detect non-compliant instances (e.g., those launched with unapproved AMIs) and trigger an automatic remediation action, such as terminating the instance or sending notifications, providing a detective and corrective control.
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: Jul 4, 2026
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