The answer is to use Service Control Policies (SCPs) with conditions on the ec2:CreateVpc action, specifying allowed CIDR ranges. This is correct because SCPs operate at the AWS Organizations level, allowing you to centrally restrict VPC CIDR ranges across accounts by attaching a policy to an Organizational Unit (OU) or specific member account, effectively denying any VPC creation that falls outside the permitted IP blocks. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of preventive vs. detective controls—a common trap is choosing AWS Config (detective) or CloudTrail (logging) when the question explicitly asks for enforcement. Remember that SCPs are the only mechanism that can prevent actions across accounts before they happen, while IAM policies only apply within a single account. Memory tip: SCPs are the “bouncer” at the organization door—they deny entry before the party starts, whereas Config is the “camera” that catches rule-breakers 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. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 allow certain member accounts to create VPCs with specific CIDR ranges. Which mechanism should be used to enforce this restriction?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use SCPs with conditions on the ec2:CreateVpc action, specifying allowed CIDR ranges.
Option B is correct because SCPs can be attached to OUs or accounts to deny actions that do not meet conditions. Option A is wrong because IAM policies are for users/roles within an account, not for controlling actions across accounts. Option C is wrong because AWS Config can detect non-compliant VPCs but cannot prevent creation. Option D is wrong because CloudTrail logs but does not enforce.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Use AWS Config rules to automatically delete non-compliant VPCs.
Why it's wrong here
Config cannot prevent creation; it can only detect and remediate after.
✗
Use IAM policies with conditions on the ec2:CreateVpc action in each account.
Why it's wrong here
IAM policies are account-specific; SCPs are needed for organization-wide enforcement.
✗
Use AWS CloudTrail to monitor VPC creation and alert the security team.
Why it's wrong here
Monitoring is not enforcement.
✓
Use SCPs with conditions on the ec2:CreateVpc action, specifying allowed CIDR ranges.
Why this is correct
SCPs can deny VPC creation if the CIDR does not match allowed ranges.
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
→Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
→Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
→Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related SAP-C02 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — This question tests Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use SCPs with conditions on the ec2:CreateVpc action, specifying allowed CIDR ranges. — Option B is correct because SCPs can be attached to OUs or accounts to deny actions that do not meet conditions. Option A is wrong because IAM policies are for users/roles within an account, not for controlling actions across accounts. Option C is wrong because AWS Config can detect non-compliant VPCs but cannot prevent creation. Option D is wrong because CloudTrail logs but does not enforce.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related SAP-C02 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
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