- A
Log in to each account and view CloudWatch metrics individually.
Why wrong: This requires manual logins and is not scalable; it is not the most scalable or cost-effective solution.
- B
Use CloudWatch cross-region metrics to aggregate metrics in a single account.
Why wrong: Cross-region metrics aggregate across regions but not accounts, so this does not solve the cross-account requirement.
- C
Configure each account to publish metrics to an S3 bucket and use Athena to query.
Why wrong: Publishing to S3 and using Athena introduces unnecessary complexity and cost compared to the native cross-account feature.
- D
Set up CloudWatch cross-account observability with a monitoring account.
CloudWatch cross-account observability natively centralizes monitoring from multiple accounts into a single monitoring account, making it both scalable and cost-effective.
PAS-C01 CloudWatch cross-account observability Practice Question
This PAS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of operations and maintenance. 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. A key principle to apply: cloudWatch cross-account observability. 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 centralize monitoring of EC2 instance metrics across multiple AWS accounts. Which solution is MOST scalable and cost-effective?
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
Set up CloudWatch cross-account observability with a monitoring account.
CloudWatch cross-account observability (option D) is the most scalable and cost-effective solution for centralizing monitoring across multiple AWS accounts, as it allows a single monitoring account to aggregate metrics, logs, and traces from source accounts without manual logins or complex data pipelines. Option A, while not scalable for large environments, can be used for simple, ad-hoc checks in small setups; however, the question specifically asks for the MOST scalable and cost-effective approach, which is solely option D. The previous marking of option B as correct was in error; option B refers to cross-region metrics, which do not aggregate across accounts. Option C is inefficient and costly due to storage and query overhead.
Key principle: CloudWatch cross-account observability
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Log in to each account and view CloudWatch metrics individually.
Why it's wrong here
This requires manual logins and is not scalable; it is not the most scalable or cost-effective solution.
- ✗
Use CloudWatch cross-region metrics to aggregate metrics in a single account.
Why it's wrong here
Cross-region metrics aggregate across regions but not accounts, so this does not solve the cross-account requirement.
- ✗
Configure each account to publish metrics to an S3 bucket and use Athena to query.
Why it's wrong here
Publishing to S3 and using Athena introduces unnecessary complexity and cost compared to the native cross-account feature.
- ✓
Set up CloudWatch cross-account observability with a monitoring account.
Why this is correct
CloudWatch cross-account observability natively centralizes monitoring from multiple accounts into a single monitoring account, making it both scalable and cost-effective.
Related concept
CloudWatch cross-account observability
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates may confuse cross-region metrics (option B) with cross-account observability, or overcomplicate the solution with S3 and Athena (option C). The key is to recognize that cross-account observability is purpose-built for this scenario.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CloudWatch cross-account observability uses AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) roles to grant the monitoring account read-only access to metrics, logs, and traces in source accounts. Under the hood, it leverages CloudWatch's existing APIs and the PutMetricData action with a source account identifier, enabling real-time aggregation without data duplication. In a real-world scenario, a company with 50+ accounts can set up a single monitoring account and use CloudWatch dashboards to view all EC2 instance metrics, reducing operational overhead and enabling centralized alerting.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CloudWatch cross-account observability
- Scalability
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
CloudWatch cross-account observability
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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 cloudWatch cross-account observability, then practise related PAS-C01 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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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 — CloudWatch cross-account observability.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Set up CloudWatch cross-account observability with a monitoring account. — CloudWatch cross-account observability (option D) is the most scalable and cost-effective solution for centralizing monitoring across multiple AWS accounts, as it allows a single monitoring account to aggregate metrics, logs, and traces from source accounts without manual logins or complex data pipelines. Option A, while not scalable for large environments, can be used for simple, ad-hoc checks in small setups; however, the question specifically asks for the MOST scalable and cost-effective approach, which is solely option D. The previous marking of option B as correct was in error; option B refers to cross-region metrics, which do not aggregate across accounts. Option C is inefficient and costly due to storage and query overhead.
What should I do if I get this PAS-C01 question wrong?
Review cloudWatch cross-account observability, then practise related PAS-C01 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CloudWatch cross-account observability
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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