- A
{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:RunInstances","Resource":"*","Condition":{"StringNotEquals":{"ec2:InstanceType":["t3.*","m5.*"]}}}
Denies launch if instance type is not in the allowed list.
- B
{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:RunInstances","Resource":"arn:aws:ec2:*:*:instance/*","Condition":{"StringNotEquals":{"ec2:InstanceType":["t3.*","m5.*"]}}}
Why wrong: Resource ARN for instances is not needed; also the condition syntax is correct, but this is essentially the same as B but with resource restriction; B is simpler and correct.
- C
{"Effect":"Allow","Action":"ec2:RunInstances","Resource":"*","Condition":{"StringEquals":{"ec2:InstanceType":["t3.*","m5.*"]}}}
Why wrong: SCPs cannot allow actions; they only deny.
- D
{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:RunInstances","Resource":"*"}
Why wrong: Denies all EC2 instance launches.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is the SCP that uses a Deny effect with a StringNotEquals condition on ec2:InstanceType, targeting only t3.* and m5.* patterns. This works because the Deny effect explicitly blocks any instance type that does not match the allowed families, while the wildcard in the Resource element ensures the policy applies to all EC2 RunInstances actions across every account in the organization. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to use SCPs with condition keys to enforce instance type restrictions, a common pattern for governance in multi-account environments. A frequent trap is choosing an Allow-based SCP, but since SCPs are deny-by-default, you must explicitly Deny non-compliant types rather than trying to Allow a subset. Memory tip: think “Deny the rest, not allow the best” — use StringNotEquals to block everything outside your approved list.
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 and wants to restrict the use of specific instance types across all accounts. The company wants to allow only T3 and M5 instances. Which SCP should be applied?
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
{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:RunInstances","Resource":"*","Condition":{"StringNotEquals":{"ec2:InstanceType":["t3.*","m5.*"]}}}
Option A is correct because it uses a Deny effect with a StringNotEquals condition on ec2:InstanceType to block any instance type that does not match the patterns 't3.*' or 'm5.*'. This effectively restricts all accounts in the organization to only T3 and M5 instance families when launching EC2 instances, as any attempt to use a non-allowed type will be denied. The wildcard (*) in the Resource element covers all resources, ensuring the policy applies broadly.
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.
- ✓
{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:RunInstances","Resource":"*","Condition":{"StringNotEquals":{"ec2:InstanceType":["t3.*","m5.*"]}}}
Why this is correct
Denies launch if instance type is not in the allowed list.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:RunInstances","Resource":"arn:aws:ec2:*:*:instance/*","Condition":{"StringNotEquals":{"ec2:InstanceType":["t3.*","m5.*"]}}}
Why it's wrong here
Resource ARN for instances is not needed; also the condition syntax is correct, but this is essentially the same as B but with resource restriction; B is simpler and correct.
- ✗
{"Effect":"Allow","Action":"ec2:RunInstances","Resource":"*","Condition":{"StringEquals":{"ec2:InstanceType":["t3.*","m5.*"]}}}
Why it's wrong here
SCPs cannot allow actions; they only deny.
- ✗
{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:RunInstances","Resource":"*"}
Why it's wrong here
Denies all EC2 instance launches.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose Option C because they think an Allow SCP will permit only the specified instance types, but SCPs are deny-only by default and an Allow statement does not override the implicit deny—only a Deny statement can explicitly block non-compliant actions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SCPs in AWS Organizations act as a guardrail that filters permissions granted by IAM policies; a Deny SCP with a condition like StringNotEquals effectively creates a blacklist of non-compliant instance types. The ec2:InstanceType condition key supports wildcard patterns (e.g., 't3.*' matches t3.nano, t3.micro, etc.), but note that the condition must be evaluated against the actual instance type specified in the API call—if the user omits the InstanceType parameter, the condition may not match and the Deny could be bypassed, so a best practice is to also include a Deny for requests without an InstanceType. In real-world scenarios, this SCP is often combined with a separate Deny for ec2:RunInstances when the instance type is not specified, to prevent users from launching instances with default types that might not be allowed.
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.
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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: {"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:RunInstances","Resource":"*","Condition":{"StringNotEquals":{"ec2:InstanceType":["t3.*","m5.*"]}}} — Option A is correct because it uses a Deny effect with a StringNotEquals condition on ec2:InstanceType to block any instance type that does not match the patterns 't3.*' or 'm5.*'. This effectively restricts all accounts in the organization to only T3 and M5 instance families when launching EC2 instances, as any attempt to use a non-allowed type will be denied. The wildcard (*) in the Resource element covers all resources, ensuring the policy applies broadly.
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 24, 2026
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