- A
Use Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager (DLM) to schedule EBS snapshots with a 30-day retention.
DLM automates the creation and deletion of EBS snapshots based on a schedule, meeting the requirement efficiently.
- B
Use AWS Backup to schedule EBS snapshots and set the retention policy.
Why wrong: AWS Backup is a valid option, but DLM is specifically designed for EBS snapshots and is simpler.
- C
Schedule a Lambda function to create an EBS snapshot daily and delete snapshots older than 30 days.
Why wrong: This adds unnecessary complexity and potential failure points compared to DLM.
- D
Create an AMI daily using AWS Backup and set the retention to 30 days.
Why wrong: AMIs include snapshot data but also additional metadata; using snapshots directly is more efficient.
SOA-C02 Reliability and Business Continuity Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of reliability and business continuity. 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's critical application uses an EBS-backed EC2 instance. They want to back up the instance daily with a retention policy of 30 days. What is the MOST efficient way to achieve this?
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
Use Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager (DLM) to schedule EBS snapshots with a 30-day retention.
Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager (DLM) is the most efficient choice because it is a fully managed service designed specifically for automating the creation, retention, and deletion of EBS snapshots. It natively supports scheduling daily snapshots with a retention policy of 30 days without requiring custom scripts or additional services, minimizing operational overhead and cost.
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.
- ✓
Use Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager (DLM) to schedule EBS snapshots with a 30-day retention.
Why this is correct
DLM automates the creation and deletion of EBS snapshots based on a schedule, meeting the requirement efficiently.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use AWS Backup to schedule EBS snapshots and set the retention policy.
Why it's wrong here
AWS Backup is a valid option, but DLM is specifically designed for EBS snapshots and is simpler.
- ✗
Schedule a Lambda function to create an EBS snapshot daily and delete snapshots older than 30 days.
Why it's wrong here
This adds unnecessary complexity and potential failure points compared to DLM.
- ✗
Create an AMI daily using AWS Backup and set the retention to 30 days.
Why it's wrong here
AMIs include snapshot data but also additional metadata; using snapshots directly is more efficient.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often overcomplicate the solution by choosing AWS Backup or Lambda, not realizing that DLM is the simplest and most cost-effective managed service for EBS snapshot lifecycle management, and that AMIs are not the standard for daily block-level backups of a single instance.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DLM uses AWS-managed policies that directly interact with the EC2 API to create snapshots and enforce retention based on count or age. Under the hood, DLM tags snapshots with a unique identifier (e.g., 'aws:dlm:lifecycle-policy-id') to track and delete expired snapshots, ensuring no orphaned resources. In a real-world scenario, if the instance is part of an Auto Scaling group, DLM can also target volumes by tags, making it ideal for automated, policy-driven backups without manual intervention.
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 startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
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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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SOA-C02 question test?
Reliability and Business Continuity — This question tests Reliability and Business Continuity — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager (DLM) to schedule EBS snapshots with a 30-day retention. — Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager (DLM) is the most efficient choice because it is a fully managed service designed specifically for automating the creation, retention, and deletion of EBS snapshots. It natively supports scheduling daily snapshots with a retention policy of 30 days without requiring custom scripts or additional services, minimizing operational overhead and cost.
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.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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