- A
Create a service control policy (SCP) that denies the creation of resources if they do not have the required tags.
SCPs can enforce tag requirements proactively.
- B
Use AWS Budgets to alert on untagged resources.
Why wrong: Budgets do not enforce tags.
- C
Use AWS Config rules to detect untagged resources and trigger a Lambda function to tag them.
Why wrong: Detective, not preventive.
- D
Create an AWS Lambda function that tags resources after they are created.
Why wrong: Reactive, not preventive.
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 a multi-account strategy. The finance team wants to centrally manage and enforce cost allocation tags across all accounts. Which solution is MOST effective?
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 a service control policy (SCP) that denies the creation of resources if they do not have the required tags.
A service control policy (SCP) can be applied at the root, OU, or account level in AWS Organizations to deny the creation of resources that do not have the required cost allocation tags. This enforces tagging proactively at the API call level, preventing untagged resources from being created in the first place, which is the most effective approach for central enforcement.
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 a service control policy (SCP) that denies the creation of resources if they do not have the required tags.
Why this is correct
SCPs can enforce tag requirements proactively.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS Budgets to alert on untagged resources.
Why it's wrong here
Budgets do not enforce tags.
- ✗
Use AWS Config rules to detect untagged resources and trigger a Lambda function to tag them.
Why it's wrong here
Detective, not preventive.
- ✗
Create an AWS Lambda function that tags resources after they are created.
Why it's wrong here
Reactive, not preventive.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose reactive solutions (like AWS Config or Lambda) because they seem automated, but the question asks for the 'most effective' solution, which requires proactive enforcement via SCPs to prevent untagged resources from ever existing.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SCPs work by using AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) policy language with a Deny effect on the `aws:RequestTag` or `aws:TagKeys` condition keys, evaluated at the time of the API call. For example, an SCP with `"Condition": {"Null": {"aws:RequestTag/cost-center": "true"}}` will block any Create* or Run* action that does not include the required tag. This enforcement happens before the resource is created, ensuring compliance from the start.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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 a service control policy (SCP) that denies the creation of resources if they do not have the required tags. — A service control policy (SCP) can be applied at the root, OU, or account level in AWS Organizations to deny the creation of resources that do not have the required cost allocation tags. This enforces tagging proactively at the API call level, preventing untagged resources from being created in the first place, which is the most effective approach for central enforcement.
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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