The answer is to use AWS Systems Manager Run Command with a resource group that selects instances by tag across accounts. This solution is correct because Run Command natively supports cross-account execution through AWS Organizations and resource data sync, allowing you to target EC2 instances tagged with Environment=Production across all 50 accounts without additional infrastructure. The key technical concept is that Systems Manager can aggregate inventory and tag data from multiple accounts into a central management account, then use resource groups to filter and execute commands on those instances immediately. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of cross-account automation patterns and the distinction between one-time execution (Run Command) versus scheduled maintenance (State Manager). A common trap is choosing State Manager for its scheduling capabilities, but the requirement for immediate, one-time execution disqualifies it. Memory tip: think "Run Once, Run Across" — Run Command for immediate, cross-account script execution.
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 has a multi-account AWS environment with 50 accounts. They use AWS Organizations and want to centrally manage EC2 instances across all accounts. The operations team needs to run a script on all EC2 instances that are tagged with Environment=Production. The script must be executed once immediately and requires access to a shared S3 bucket in the management account. Which solution meets these requirements with the least operational overhead?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "least"
Why it matters: You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
Clue: "immediately / without restart"
Why it matters: Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use AWS Systems Manager Run Command with a resource group that selects instances by tag across accounts.
Option D is correct because AWS Systems Manager Run Command can target instances by tags across accounts using resource data sync and cross-account delegation. Option A is wrong because AWS Systems Manager State Manager is for scheduled execution, not one-time immediate. Option B is wrong because AWS Config does not execute scripts. Option C is wrong because AWS Lambda cannot directly run scripts on EC2 instances without additional infrastructure.
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.
✗
Use AWS Systems Manager State Manager to create an association that runs the script on the targeted instances.
Why it's wrong here
State Manager is for scheduled or ongoing execution, not one-time immediate.
✗
Use AWS Config to create a custom rule that triggers an AWS Lambda function to run the script on the instances.
Why it's wrong here
Config rules are for compliance, not executing scripts.
✗
Use AWS Lambda to directly run the script on EC2 instances using the AWS SDK.
Why it's wrong here
Lambda cannot directly run scripts on EC2 without an agent.
✓
Use AWS Systems Manager Run Command with a resource group that selects instances by tag across accounts.
Why this is correct
Run Command can execute commands immediately on targeted instances.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "least", "immediately / without restart" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which SAP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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: Use AWS Systems Manager Run Command with a resource group that selects instances by tag across accounts. — Option D is correct because AWS Systems Manager Run Command can target instances by tags across accounts using resource data sync and cross-account delegation. Option A is wrong because AWS Systems Manager State Manager is for scheduled execution, not one-time immediate. Option B is wrong because AWS Config does not execute scripts. Option C is wrong because AWS Lambda cannot directly run scripts on EC2 instances without additional infrastructure.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which SAP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "least", "immediately / without restart". You want the option with minimum overhead, fewest steps, or lowest impact — not the most feature-rich or comprehensive answer.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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