The answer is Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager (DLM) because it is the native AWS service purpose-built to automate EBS snapshots lifecycle with minimal operational overhead. DLM allows you to define a policy that schedules daily point-in-time snapshots for all production volumes and sets a retention rule to automatically delete them after 90 days, eliminating manual scripting or third-party tools. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of cost-effective, automated data protection strategies versus manual or overly complex alternatives—a common trap is choosing AWS Backup (which can also handle snapshots but adds unnecessary overhead for simple EBS-only retention) or a custom Lambda solution. Remember the key distinction: DLM is the leanest choice for EBS snapshot lifecycle automation, while AWS Backup is better for cross-service orchestration. Memory tip: DLM = “Daily Lifecycle Manager” for EBS snapshots, keeping retention rules simple and serverless.
SCS-C02 Data Protection Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of data protection. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 designing a data protection strategy for Amazon EBS volumes. They want to automate the creation of point-in-time snapshots for all production volumes and retain them for 90 days. 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager (DLM) to create a policy that takes snapshots daily and retains them for 90 days
Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager (DLM) is designed to automate EBS snapshot creation and retention. Option A is correct. Option B is manual, C is for backups (though DLM also works), D is third-party overhead.
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.
✗
Write a script using the AWS CLI that creates snapshots and runs on a schedule via cron on an EC2 instance
Why it's wrong here
Manual, higher overhead.
✓
Use Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager (DLM) to create a policy that takes snapshots daily and retains them for 90 days
Why this is correct
Automated, native solution.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "least" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use an AWS Lambda function triggered by CloudWatch Events to create snapshots and delete old ones
Why it's wrong here
More overhead than DLM.
✗
Use AWS Backup to create a backup plan for EBS volumes with a 90-day retention
Why it's wrong here
AWS Backup works, but DLM is less overhead for EBS snapshots.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which SCS-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.
Data Protection — This question tests Data Protection — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager (DLM) to create a policy that takes snapshots daily and retains them for 90 days — Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager (DLM) is designed to automate EBS snapshot creation and retention. Option A is correct. Option B is manual, C is for backups (though DLM also works), D is third-party overhead.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Identify which SCS-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". 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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Question Discussion
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