- A
A launch template or launch configuration that defines the AMI and instance type.
The launch template/configuration is required for the Auto Scaling group to launch instances.
- B
A health check grace period set in the Auto Scaling group.
Why wrong: The grace period is optional and does not affect automatic registration.
- C
A security group that allows traffic from the ALB.
Why wrong: Security groups are needed for traffic flow but not for automatic registration.
- D
A target group ARN specified in the Auto Scaling group's configuration.
The Auto Scaling group uses the target group to register instances.
- E
An Application Load Balancer created in the same stack.
Why wrong: The Auto Scaling group needs a target group, not the load balancer itself.
Question 188 of 1,546
SOA-C02 Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of deployment, provisioning, and automation. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 is automating the deployment of a web application using AWS CloudFormation. The application requires an Application Load Balancer (ALB) and an Auto Scaling group. The administrator wants to ensure that the Auto Scaling group registers instances with the ALB automatically. Which of the following are required? (Choose TWO.)
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
✓
A launch template or launch configuration that defines the AMI and instance type.
A launch template or launch configuration is required because it defines the AMI, instance type, and other configuration details that the Auto Scaling group uses to launch EC2 instances. Without it, the Auto Scaling group cannot provision instances to register with the ALB.
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.
- ✓
A launch template or launch configuration that defines the AMI and instance type.
Why this is correct
The launch template/configuration is required for the Auto Scaling group to launch instances.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
A health check grace period set in the Auto Scaling group.
Why it's wrong here
The grace period is optional and does not affect automatic registration.
- ✗
A security group that allows traffic from the ALB.
Why it's wrong here
Security groups are needed for traffic flow but not for automatic registration.
- ✓
A target group ARN specified in the Auto Scaling group's configuration.
Why this is correct
The Auto Scaling group uses the target group to register instances.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
An Application Load Balancer created in the same stack.
Why it's wrong here
The Auto Scaling group needs a target group, not the load balancer itself.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think the ALB must be in the same CloudFormation stack or that a health check grace period is mandatory, when in fact only the launch template/configuration and target group ARN are required for automatic registration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When an Auto Scaling group is configured with a target group ARN, it automatically registers new instances with the target group, which is attached to the ALB listener. The launch template or launch configuration provides the instance specification, while the target group ARN links the Auto Scaling group to the load balancer. This integration uses the EC2 Auto Scaling lifecycle hooks and the ELBv2 API to manage instance registration and deregistration.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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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: A launch template or launch configuration that defines the AMI and instance type. — A launch template or launch configuration is required because it defines the AMI, instance type, and other configuration details that the Auto Scaling group uses to launch EC2 instances. Without it, the Auto Scaling group cannot provision instances to register with the ALB.
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: Jul 4, 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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