The answer is AWS CloudFormation and AWS CodeCommit. CloudFormation enables you to define your entire AWS infrastructure as code using templates, while CodeCommit provides a fully managed Git repository for version control and peer review workflows. Together, they satisfy the requirement for infrastructure as code version control review by allowing you to store CloudFormation templates in CodeCommit, create pull requests for proposed changes, and merge only after approvals. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this pairing tests your understanding of the separation between provisioning logic and source control—a common trap is confusing OpsWorks (configuration management) or Config (compliance auditing) with version control. Remember that CloudFormation is the declarative IaC engine, and CodeCommit is the Git-based repository; think “templates in Git” to avoid picking Service Catalog or OpsWorks. A useful mnemonic is “CF + CC = IaC with VC,” where CF is CloudFormation and CC is CodeCommit.
SOA-C02 Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of deployment, provisioning, and automation. 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 SysOps administrator needs to automate the provisioning of AWS resources using infrastructure as code. The administrator wants to ensure that the code is version-controlled and that changes are reviewed before deployment. Which TWO AWS services should the administrator use together to achieve this? (Choose TWO.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
AWS CloudFormation
Option A (AWS CloudFormation) is correct for defining infrastructure as code. Option C (AWS CodeCommit) is correct for version control. Option B is incorrect because OpsWorks is configuration management. Option D is incorrect because Config is for compliance. Option E is incorrect because Service Catalog is for product portfolios.
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 Config
Why it's wrong here
Config evaluates resource configurations, not provisioning.
✓
AWS CloudFormation
Why this is correct
CloudFormation allows infrastructure provisioning through templates.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
AWS CodeCommit
Why this is correct
CodeCommit provides Git repositories for version control.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
AWS Service Catalog
Why it's wrong here
Service Catalog allows creation of approved products, not infrastructure as code.
✗
AWS OpsWorks Stacks
Why it's wrong here
OpsWorks is for application configuration, not infrastructure provisioning.
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 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.
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 — Option A (AWS CloudFormation) is correct for defining infrastructure as code. Option C (AWS CodeCommit) is correct for version control. Option B is incorrect because OpsWorks is configuration management. Option D is incorrect because Config is for compliance. Option E is incorrect because Service Catalog is for product portfolios.
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.
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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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.
Question Discussion
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