- A
AWS CloudFormation StackSets
StackSets extend CloudFormation's capabilities to create, update, and delete stacks across multiple accounts and regions from a single template. They are designed for this exact use case.
- B
AWS CodePipeline with cross-account deployment actions
Why wrong: CodePipeline can deploy to multiple accounts using cross-account actions, but this requires additional configuration for each account and is not as straightforward or purpose-built as StackSets for deploying the same template to all accounts.
- C
AWS CloudFormation cross-stack references
Why wrong: Cross-stack references allow stacks to share resources within the same account, not across accounts.
- D
AWS Service Catalog
Why wrong: Service Catalog enables organizations to create and manage IT service catalogs and approve products for use, but it does not automatically deploy templates across multiple accounts.
SOA-C02 Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of deployment, provisioning, and automation. 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 uses AWS Organizations with multiple member accounts. The SysOps administrator needs to deploy a common AWS CloudFormation template that creates an IAM role across all member accounts in the organization. Which AWS service should be used to deploy this template across accounts?
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
AWS CloudFormation StackSets
AWS CloudFormation StackSets is the correct service because it extends CloudFormation functionality to deploy templates across multiple accounts and regions from a single management account. StackSets uses a self-managed or service-managed permission model, and with AWS Organizations, it can automatically deploy to all member accounts in the organization or specified organizational units (OUs), making it ideal for deploying a common IAM role across all accounts.
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.
- ✓
AWS CloudFormation StackSets
Why this is correct
StackSets extend CloudFormation's capabilities to create, update, and delete stacks across multiple accounts and regions from a single template. They are designed for this exact use case.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
AWS CodePipeline with cross-account deployment actions
Why it's wrong here
CodePipeline can deploy to multiple accounts using cross-account actions, but this requires additional configuration for each account and is not as straightforward or purpose-built as StackSets for deploying the same template to all accounts.
- ✗
AWS CloudFormation cross-stack references
Why it's wrong here
Cross-stack references allow stacks to share resources within the same account, not across accounts.
- ✗
AWS Service Catalog
Why it's wrong here
Service Catalog enables organizations to create and manage IT service catalogs and approve products for use, but it does not automatically deploy templates across multiple accounts.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse AWS Service Catalog's ability to launch templates in individual accounts with automatic multi-account deployment, overlooking that StackSets is the only service designed for bulk, automated deployment across all organization accounts.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
StackSets leverages a stack instance per target account and region, with the management account acting as the administrator. When using service-managed permissions with Organizations, StackSets automatically creates a service-linked role (AWSServiceRoleForCloudFormationStackSetsOrgAdmin) in the management account and a delegated administrator role in each member account, enabling automated deployment without manual role creation. A real-world scenario is deploying a centralized IAM role for AWS Config or Security Hub across hundreds of accounts, where StackSets ensures consistent permissions and can automatically add new accounts as they join the organization.
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.
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
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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SOA-C02 question test?
Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation — This question tests Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: AWS CloudFormation StackSets — AWS CloudFormation StackSets is the correct service because it extends CloudFormation functionality to deploy templates across multiple accounts and regions from a single management account. StackSets uses a self-managed or service-managed permission model, and with AWS Organizations, it can automatically deploy to all member accounts in the organization or specified organizational units (OUs), making it ideal for deploying a common IAM role across all accounts.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 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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