- A
The management account must have an IAM role (StackSetsAdminRole) with permissions to create stack instances in member accounts.
This is the admin role that assumes the execution role in member accounts.
- B
The management account must have an AWS Organizations SCP that allows CloudFormation StackSets operations.
Why wrong: SCPs are not required for StackSets; the necessary permissions are handled by IAM.
- C
The execution role in member accounts must have permissions to create the resources defined in the CloudFormation template (e.g., VPC, subnets).
The execution role needs permissions to actually create the resources.
- D
Each member account must have a self-managed IAM role named 'AWSCloudFormationStackSetExecutionRole' with a trust policy allowing the management account to assume it.
Why wrong: Self-managed roles are not required; StackSets can use service-managed permissions with automatic role creation.
- E
The management account must have permission to assume the execution role in member accounts (via IAM trust policy).
The admin role must be trusted by the execution role.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the management account must have permission to assume the execution role in member accounts via an IAM trust policy. This is correct because AWS CloudFormation StackSets operate on a two-role model: an administration role in the management account that trusts the CloudFormation service, and an execution role in each member account that the administration role assumes to deploy resources. Without a properly configured trust policy on the execution role, the StackSet service cannot perform cross-account stack operations, making this the foundational permission required for deployment. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this concept tests your understanding of AWS Organizations and delegated administration, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly focus on service-linked roles or SCPs instead of the trust relationship. A common memory tip is to think of the StackSet as a key: the administration role is the keyholder, the execution role is the lock in each member account, and the trust policy is the keyhole that must match for the lock to open.
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 central IT team wants to deploy a set of common VPCs in each account using AWS CloudFormation StackSets. The StackSets must be managed from the management account. Which THREE permissions are required for the StackSets to successfully deploy stacks into member accounts?
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
The management account must have an IAM role (StackSetsAdminRole) with permissions to create stack instances in member accounts.
Option A is correct because StackSets require the management account to have an IAM role (commonly named 'AWSCloudFormationStackSetAdministrationRole') that grants permission to create and manage stack instances in member accounts. This role is assumed by CloudFormation to perform operations across accounts, and it must have a trust policy allowing the CloudFormation service to assume it.
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.
- ✓
The management account must have an IAM role (StackSetsAdminRole) with permissions to create stack instances in member accounts.
Why this is correct
This is the admin role that assumes the execution role in member accounts.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The management account must have an AWS Organizations SCP that allows CloudFormation StackSets operations.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs are not required for StackSets; the necessary permissions are handled by IAM.
- ✓
The execution role in member accounts must have permissions to create the resources defined in the CloudFormation template (e.g., VPC, subnets).
Why this is correct
The execution role needs permissions to actually create the resources.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Each member account must have a self-managed IAM role named 'AWSCloudFormationStackSetExecutionRole' with a trust policy allowing the management account to assume it.
Why it's wrong here
Self-managed roles are not required; StackSets can use service-managed permissions with automatic role creation.
- ✓
The management account must have permission to assume the execution role in member accounts (via IAM trust policy).
Why this is correct
The admin role must be trusted by the execution role.
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 often confuse the optional self-managed execution role (option D) as a requirement, when in fact service-managed StackSets eliminate the need for manual role creation in member accounts.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, StackSets use two IAM roles: an administration role in the management account that trusts the CloudFormation service, and an execution role in each target account that trusts the administration role. For service-managed StackSets, AWS Organizations and AWS CloudFormation automatically handle the creation and trust relationship of the execution role, simplifying deployment at scale. The execution role must have permissions to create the specific resources defined in the template (e.g., ec2:CreateVpc), which is why option C is correct.
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
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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: The management account must have an IAM role (StackSetsAdminRole) with permissions to create stack instances in member accounts. — Option A is correct because StackSets require the management account to have an IAM role (commonly named 'AWSCloudFormationStackSetAdministrationRole') that grants permission to create and manage stack instances in member accounts. This role is assumed by CloudFormation to perform operations across accounts, and it must have a trust policy allowing the CloudFormation service to assume it.
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 11, 2026
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