- A
Assign the patch baseline to the instance IDs directly.
Why wrong: Patch baselines are assigned to patch groups, not individual instances.
- B
Ensure that the instances have the appropriate IAM role that allows them to be patched.
Why wrong: While necessary, this is a prerequisite and not a troubleshooting step for specific failures.
- C
Verify that the SSM Agent on the failed instances is running and is able to communicate with the Systems Manager service.
The SSM Agent must be online to execute patching commands.
- D
Check the output of the AWS-RunPatchBaseline SSM document in the Systems Manager Run Command history for the failed instances.
The command output provides error details for troubleshooting.
- E
Configure a Maintenance Window for the patching operation.
Why wrong: Maintenance Windows are optional; patching can be done on demand.
PAS-C01 Operations and Maintenance Practice Question
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of operations and maintenance. 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 Systems Manager Patch Manager to patch a fleet of EC2 instances. The instances are in a patch group and have the SSM Agent installed. After a patching operation, the operations team notices that some instances did not apply the patches. The instances show a status of 'Failed' in the Patch Manager console. Which TWO steps should the team take to troubleshoot and resolve the issue? (Choose TWO.)
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
Verify that the SSM Agent on the failed instances is running and is able to communicate with the Systems Manager service.
Option C is correct because if the SSM Agent is not running or cannot communicate with the AWS Systems Manager service, Patch Manager cannot execute the patching commands. The agent must be in a healthy state and have network connectivity (e.g., via VPC endpoints or internet gateway) to receive the patch baseline and report status. Option D is correct because the AWS-RunPatchBashelline SSM document execution history in Run Command provides detailed logs and error messages for each instance, allowing the team to identify why the patching failed, such as missing dependencies or timeout issues.
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.
- ✗
Assign the patch baseline to the instance IDs directly.
Why it's wrong here
Patch baselines are assigned to patch groups, not individual instances.
- ✗
Ensure that the instances have the appropriate IAM role that allows them to be patched.
Why it's wrong here
While necessary, this is a prerequisite and not a troubleshooting step for specific failures.
- ✓
Verify that the SSM Agent on the failed instances is running and is able to communicate with the Systems Manager service.
Why this is correct
The SSM Agent must be online to execute patching commands.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
Check the output of the AWS-RunPatchBaseline SSM document in the Systems Manager Run Command history for the failed instances.
Why this is correct
The command output provides error details for troubleshooting.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure a Maintenance Window for the patching operation.
Why it's wrong here
Maintenance Windows are optional; patching can be done on demand.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may assume the IAM role (Option B) is the primary cause of failure, but the question already indicates the SSM Agent is installed and the instances show a 'Failed' status, which often points to agent communication or execution errors rather than missing permissions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The SSM Agent communicates with the Systems Manager service via HTTPS (port 443) and relies on the AWS Systems Manager endpoint (ssm.<region>.amazonaws.com). If the agent is stopped or the instance lacks outbound internet access or VPC endpoints, the agent cannot receive the 'SendCommand' API call or report execution results. The AWS-RunPatchBashelline document outputs logs to the instance's local Systems Manager log directory (e.g., /var/log/amazon/ssm/), which can also be reviewed for granular error details like missing packages or repository issues.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PAS-C01 question test?
Operations and Maintenance — This question tests Operations and Maintenance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Verify that the SSM Agent on the failed instances is running and is able to communicate with the Systems Manager service. — Option C is correct because if the SSM Agent is not running or cannot communicate with the AWS Systems Manager service, Patch Manager cannot execute the patching commands. The agent must be in a healthy state and have network connectivity (e.g., via VPC endpoints or internet gateway) to receive the patch baseline and report status. Option D is correct because the AWS-RunPatchBashelline SSM document execution history in Run Command provides detailed logs and error messages for each instance, allowing the team to identify why the patching failed, such as missing dependencies or timeout issues.
What should I do if I get this PAS-C01 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 11, 2026
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