The answer is a conflicting DNS record, such as a CNAME, for the same name in the hosted zone. This is correct because Route 53 does not allow an alias record and a CNAME to coexist for the same domain name; if a CNAME exists alongside the alias record, DNS resolution can intermittently return the CNAME’s target instead of the ALB’s IP addresses, especially if the CNAME has a longer TTL and is cached by resolvers. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of DNS record conflicts and how Route 53 prioritizes alias records over CNAMEs—a common trap is assuming the alias record alone guarantees correct routing. Remember the key rule: alias records and CNAMEs are mutually exclusive for the same name; if you see intermittent misdirection, always check for a hidden CNAME. A useful memory tip is “Alias or CNAME, never both—one name, one record type.”
SOA-C02 Networking and Content Delivery Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of networking and content delivery. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 runs a web application on EC2 instances behind an Application Load Balancer (ALB). The application uses a custom domain name, 'app.example.com'. The SysOps team configured Amazon Route 53 with an alias record to the ALB DNS name. Users report that occasionally they are directed to a different website. The team suspects DNS resolution issues. They check the Route 53 hosted zone and find the alias record is correctly configured. The ALB is healthy. What is the most likely cause of the intermittent misdirection?
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
✓
There is a conflicting DNS record for 'app.example.com' in the same hosted zone, such as a CNAME pointing elsewhere.
Option B is correct. If the alias record points to the ALB DNS name, Route 53 will resolve to the ALB's IP addresses. However, if there is another DNS record (e.g., a CNAME) that is cached or has a different TTL, it may cause misdirection. Option A is wrong because a missing A record would cause failure, not misdirection. Option C is wrong because ALB does not redirect to other sites. Option D is wrong because TTL being too low would cause frequent changes, but not misdirection.
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.
✓
There is a conflicting DNS record for 'app.example.com' in the same hosted zone, such as a CNAME pointing elsewhere.
Why this is correct
Conflicting records can cause intermittent resolution to different targets.
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 alias record is not of type A but type CNAME.
Why it's wrong here
Alias records can be A or AAAA; a CNAME is not an alias.
✗
The TTL on the alias record is set too low, causing DNS changes to propagate slowly.
Why it's wrong here
Low TTL causes faster propagation, not misdirection.
✗
The ALB is configured to redirect traffic to another domain.
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 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.
Networking and Content Delivery — This question tests Networking and Content Delivery — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: There is a conflicting DNS record for 'app.example.com' in the same hosted zone, such as a CNAME pointing elsewhere. — Option B is correct. If the alias record points to the ALB DNS name, Route 53 will resolve to the ALB's IP addresses. However, if there is another DNS record (e.g., a CNAME) that is cached or has a different TTL, it may cause misdirection. Option A is wrong because a missing A record would cause failure, not misdirection. Option C is wrong because ALB does not redirect to other sites. Option D is wrong because TTL being too low would cause frequent changes, but not misdirection.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
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.
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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