- A
Create an SCP that denies the ec2:RunInstances action for specific instance types.
SCPs can deny actions based on condition keys like ec2:InstanceType.
- B
Use AWS Config rules to detect non-compliant instance types and automatically terminate them using AWS Systems Manager Automation.
AWS Config can detect and auto-remediate.
- C
Use AWS CloudTrail to monitor launches of prohibited instance types and automatically terminate them.
Why wrong: CloudTrail logs but does not enforce.
- D
Use Service Quotas to restrict the number of instances of specific types.
Why wrong: Service Quotas limit the count, not the type.
- E
Create an IAM policy in each account that denies the specified instance types.
Why wrong: IAM policies are not automatically inherited; would require per-account setup.
Quick Answer
The answer is to use Service Control Policies (SCPs) to centrally restrict EC2 instance types across all accounts. SCPs work at the AWS Organizations level, allowing you to deny the ec2:RunInstances action when the ec2:InstanceType condition key matches prohibited types, such as GPU or high-cost instances, effectively blocking launches regardless of individual IAM permissions. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this tests your understanding of preventive versus detective controls—SCPs are preventive, while AWS Config rules are detective and can trigger automatic remediation via Systems Manager Automation. A common trap is confusing SCPs with IAM policies; remember that SCPs set a permission guardrail that overrides all IAM policies within the account. Memory tip: think of SCPs as the “bouncer at the door” that stops prohibited instance types before they ever launch, while Config is the “security camera” that catches them after the fact.
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 multiple AWS accounts managed via AWS Organizations. The security team wants to restrict the use of specific instance types across all accounts. Which TWO methods can be used to enforce this restriction?
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 the ec2:RunInstances action for specific instance types.
Option A is correct because Service Control Policies (SCPs) in AWS Organizations allow you to centrally restrict permissions across all accounts in the organization. By creating an SCP that denies the ec2:RunInstances action with a condition key like ec2:InstanceType matching specific prohibited instance types, you can enforce this restriction at the organization, OU, or account level, preventing any user or role from launching those instance types regardless of their IAM permissions.
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 the ec2:RunInstances action for specific instance types.
Why this is correct
SCPs can deny actions based on condition keys like ec2:InstanceType.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Use AWS Config rules to detect non-compliant instance types and automatically terminate them using AWS Systems Manager Automation.
Why this is correct
AWS Config can detect and auto-remediate.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS CloudTrail to monitor launches of prohibited instance types and automatically terminate them.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail logs but does not enforce.
- ✗
Use Service Quotas to restrict the number of instances of specific types.
Why it's wrong here
Service Quotas limit the count, not the type.
- ✗
Create an IAM policy in each account that denies the specified instance types.
Why it's wrong here
IAM policies are not automatically inherited; would require per-account setup.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse detective controls (AWS Config, CloudTrail) with preventive controls (SCPs), or they assume IAM policies can be centrally managed across accounts, when in fact SCPs are the only native mechanism for organization-wide preventive restrictions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SCPs use a deny-by-default model for the root user and all IAM principals, and they support condition keys like ec2:InstanceType to filter on specific instance families (e.g., t2.micro, p3.2xlarge). Under the hood, SCPs are evaluated before IAM policies, so a deny in an SCP overrides any allow in an IAM policy, making them ideal for guardrails. In a real-world scenario, a security team might use an SCP with a condition like 'ForAnyValue:StringNotEquals' to allow only a whitelist of approved instance types, blocking all others.
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.
- →
Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SAP-C02 questions
1,746 questions across all exam domains
- →
AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SAP-C02 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SAP-C02 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity practice questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity.
Design for New Solutions practice questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to Design for New Solutions.
Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions practice questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions.
Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization practice questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization.
SAA-C03 VPC practice questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 VPC.
SAA-C03 S3 lifecycle policy questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 S3 lifecycle policy questions.
SAA-C03 RDS Multi-AZ questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 RDS Multi-AZ questions.
SAA-C03 IAM policy practice questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 IAM policy.
SAA-C03 Route 53 failover questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 Route 53 failover questions.
SAA-C03 CloudFront practice questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 CloudFront.
SAA-C03 NAT gateway questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 NAT gateway questions.
SAA-C03 VPC endpoint questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 VPC endpoint questions.
Practice this exam
Start a free SAP-C02 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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 the ec2:RunInstances action for specific instance types. — Option A is correct because Service Control Policies (SCPs) in AWS Organizations allow you to centrally restrict permissions across all accounts in the organization. By creating an SCP that denies the ec2:RunInstances action with a condition key like ec2:InstanceType matching specific prohibited instance types, you can enforce this restriction at the organization, OU, or account level, preventing any user or role from launching those instance types regardless of their IAM permissions.
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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
More SAP-C02 practice questions
- Match each AWS compute service to its use case.
- A company is designing a new microservices architecture on AWS. They need a solution for service discovery that allows s…
- A company has a centralized logging account and multiple application accounts. All VPC Flow Logs are sent to a central S…
- A company is implementing AWS Control Tower to manage a multi-account environment. The security team needs to ensure tha…
- A company is designing a cross-account network architecture. The security team requires that all traffic between VPCs in…
- A company is using AWS Organizations with multiple accounts. The central IT team wants to deploy a set of common VPCs in…
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This SAP-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SAP-C02 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.