Quick Answer
The answer is an Elastic IP address, which is the correct AWS resource to attach to an EC2 instance when you need a static public IP that remains unchanged even after stopping and starting the instance. An Elastic IP is a static, public IPv4 address allocated to your AWS account, and it persists until you explicitly release it, unlike the default public IP assigned by AWS which changes every time the instance is stopped and started. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of network addressing and the distinction between ephemeral public IPs, private IPs, and Elastic IPs—a common trap is confusing a secondary private IP (which is not public) or assuming the default public IP is static. To remember, think of the Elastic IP as a "sticky note" you attach to your instance: it stays put until you peel it off, while a regular public IP is like a "post-it" that gets replaced each time you reboot.
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of networking and content delivery. 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. 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 has an EC2 instance that needs to have a static public IP address that does not change even if the instance is stopped and started. Which AWS resource should be attached to the instance?
An Elastic IP address
An Elastic IP is a static public IPv4 address that can be associated with an instance.
An automatically assigned public IP address
Why wrong: Automatically assigned public IPs are released when the instance is stopped.
A secondary private IP address
Why wrong: Secondary private IPs are not public.
A static private IP address
Why wrong: Private IPs are not publicly accessible.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
An Elastic IP address
Option C is correct because an Elastic IP address is a static public IP that can be associated with an instance and remains with the account until released. Option A is wrong because public IPs assigned by AWS change when the instance is stopped. Option B is wrong because private IPs are not public. Option D is wrong because a secondary private IP is not public.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
An Elastic IP address
Why this is correct
An Elastic IP is a static public IPv4 address that can be associated with an instance.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
An automatically assigned public IP address
Why it's wrong here
Automatically assigned public IPs are released when the instance is stopped.
A secondary private IP address
Why it's wrong here
Secondary private IPs are not public.
A static private IP address
Why it's wrong here
Private IPs are not publicly accessible.
Common exam traps
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
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which SOA-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.
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FAQ
Networking and Content Delivery — This question tests Networking and Content Delivery — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: An Elastic IP address — Option C is correct because an Elastic IP address is a static public IP that can be associated with an instance and remains with the account until released. Option A is wrong because public IPs assigned by AWS change when the instance is stopped. Option B is wrong because private IPs are not public. Option D is wrong because a secondary private IP is not public.
Identify which SOA-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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This SOA-C02 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 SOA-C02 exam.
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