- A
AWS Secrets Manager.
Why wrong: Secrets Manager is also valid but not needed if Parameter Store is used.
- B
Amazon S3 with bucket policies.
Why wrong: S3 requires managing access keys.
- C
IAM roles for EC2 instances.
IAM roles allow instances to access Parameter Store without credentials.
- D
EC2 user data scripts.
Why wrong: User data is not secure for secrets.
- E
AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store.
Parameter Store securely stores configuration and secrets.
Question 1,603 of 1,746
Secure Configuration Retrieval for EC2 with IAM Roles and AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store | AWS Solutions Architect Professional Explained
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design for new solutions. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. A key principle to apply: iAM Roles for EC2. 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 wants to store configuration data for multiple applications securely. Each application runs on Amazon EC2 instances in an Auto Scaling group. The configuration includes database credentials and API keys. Which TWO services should be used together to achieve this?
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
✓
IAM roles for EC2 instances.
The correct answer is C and E. IAM roles for EC2 instances (C) allow EC2 to securely access other AWS services without hardcoding credentials. AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store (E) provides secure, hierarchical storage for configuration data and secrets. Together, they enable EC2 to retrieve configuration data like database credentials and API keys at runtime without embedding secrets in code or user data. Option A (Secrets Manager) is also valid for secrets, but the question asks for two services, and the marked correct pair is C and E. Option B (S3 with bucket policies) is insecure for secrets, and option D (EC2 user data) is not secure for credentials.
Key principle: IAM Roles for EC2
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
AWS Secrets Manager.
Why it's wrong here
Secrets Manager is also valid but not needed if Parameter Store is used.
- ✗
Amazon S3 with bucket policies.
Why it's wrong here
S3 requires managing access keys.
- ✓
IAM roles for EC2 instances.
Why this is correct
IAM roles allow instances to access Parameter Store without credentials.
Related concept
IAM Roles for EC2
- ✗
EC2 user data scripts.
Why it's wrong here
User data is not secure for secrets.
- ✓
AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store.
Why this is correct
Parameter Store securely stores configuration and secrets.
Related concept
IAM Roles for EC2
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
Treat this as a scenario question. Identify the problem, the constraint, and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- IAM Roles for EC2
- AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store
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
IAM Roles for EC2
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.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review iAM Roles for EC2, then practise related SAP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
- →
Design for New Solutions — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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Design for New Solutions practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
Design for New Solutions — This question tests Design for New Solutions — IAM Roles for EC2.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: IAM roles for EC2 instances. — The correct answer is C and E. IAM roles for EC2 instances (C) allow EC2 to securely access other AWS services without hardcoding credentials. AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store (E) provides secure, hierarchical storage for configuration data and secrets. Together, they enable EC2 to retrieve configuration data like database credentials and API keys at runtime without embedding secrets in code or user data. Option A (Secrets Manager) is also valid for secrets, but the question asks for two services, and the marked correct pair is C and E. Option B (S3 with bucket policies) is insecure for secrets, and option D (EC2 user data) is not secure for credentials.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review iAM Roles for EC2, then practise related SAP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
IAM Roles for EC2
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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