The answer is that AWS blocks outbound traffic on port 25 by default for EC2 instances, which is the most likely reason the SAP system fails to send emails via SAPconnect using SMTP. Even when the EC2 instance has a public IP and the security group explicitly allows outbound traffic on port 25, AWS enforces a default restriction on this port at the infrastructure level to prevent spam. This is a common trap on the AWS Certified SAP on AWS Specialty PAS-C01 exam, where candidates often overlook the default port 25 block and instead blame security groups, route tables, or missing public IPs. The question tests your understanding of AWS’s default network policies versus customer-controlled configurations. Remember the memory tip: “Port 25 is blocked by AWS, not by your config”—so if your SAP email SMTP port 25 is blocked by AWS EC2, you must request removal of the restriction or use an alternative port like 587 or 465.
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.
An SAP system fails to send emails via SAPconnect using SMTP. The EC2 instance has a public IP and the security group allows outbound traffic on port 25. The SMTP server is an on-premises relay. What is the most likely reason for the failure?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
AWS blocks outbound traffic on port 25 by default for EC2 instances.
Option A is correct because AWS blocks outbound traffic on port 25 by default for EC2 instances to prevent spam. Option B is wrong because the instance has a public IP. Option C is wrong because the security group allows outbound traffic. Option D is wrong because the route table does not affect outbound traffic to the internet if the instance has a public IP.
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.
✗
The security group does not allow outbound traffic on port 25.
Why it's wrong here
The security group allows outbound on port 25.
✓
AWS blocks outbound traffic on port 25 by default for EC2 instances.
Why this is correct
AWS restricts port 25 outbound; you need to request removal or use a different port.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The EC2 instance does not have a public IP address associated.
Why it's wrong here
The instance has a public IP as stated.
✗
The route table does not have a default route to an internet gateway.
Why it's wrong here
With a public IP, a default route to IGW is assumed.
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 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 PAS-C01 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.
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: AWS blocks outbound traffic on port 25 by default for EC2 instances. — Option A is correct because AWS blocks outbound traffic on port 25 by default for EC2 instances to prevent spam. Option B is wrong because the instance has a public IP. Option C is wrong because the security group allows outbound traffic. Option D is wrong because the route table does not affect outbound traffic to the internet if the instance has a public IP.
What should I do if I get this PAS-C01 question wrong?
Identify which PAS-C01 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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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This PAS-C01 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PAS-C01 exam.
Question Discussion
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