The correct answer involves three steps: tagging the EBS volumes with a specific tag like Backup=true, creating a Data Lifecycle Manager (DLM) policy targeting those tags, and ensuring the necessary IAM role is in place for DLM to act. Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager is the native AWS service designed specifically to automate EBS snapshots and enforce retention rules, making it the ideal choice for hourly snapshots kept for seven days. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your ability to choose the simplest managed solution over more complex alternatives; a common trap is selecting AWS Backup or a CloudWatch Events–Lambda combination, but DLM is purpose-built for this exact task and requires no additional services. Remember the mnemonic "Tag, Target, Retain" — tag your volumes, target them with a DLM policy, and let DLM handle retention automatically.
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 runs a critical application on EC2 instances with EBS volumes. The SysOps administrator must ensure that EBS snapshots are taken every hour and retained for 7 days. Which THREE steps should be taken to achieve this? (Choose THREE.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create an IAM role for DLM with permissions to create and delete snapshots
Correct answers are A, C, and D. Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager (DLM) can automate EBS snapshot creation and retention. IAM roles are needed for DLM to manage snapshots. Tags can be used to select volumes. Option B is wrong because AWS Backup can also manage EBS snapshots, but it is not required if DLM is used; the question asks for steps to achieve the goal, and DLM is sufficient. However, AWS Backup is also a valid service, but the question expects DLM as primary. Option E is wrong because CloudWatch Events can trigger Lambda, but DLM is the managed solution.
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.
✗
Create a CloudWatch Events rule to trigger a Lambda function that creates snapshots
Why it's wrong here
This is possible but more complex; DLM is the simpler managed service.
✗
Use AWS Backup to create a backup plan with hourly frequency
Why it's wrong here
AWS Backup can do this, but the question asks for THREE steps; DLM is more direct for EBS snapshots.
✓
Create an IAM role for DLM with permissions to create and delete snapshots
Why this is correct
DLM needs an IAM role to operate.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Create a DLM lifecycle policy with a schedule for hourly snapshots and retention of 7 days
Why this is correct
DLM automates snapshot creation and retention.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Tag the EBS volumes with a specific tag (e.g., Backup=true) to include them in the policy
Why this is correct
Tags are used to target volumes for the DLM policy.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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 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 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.
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: Create an IAM role for DLM with permissions to create and delete snapshots — Correct answers are A, C, and D. Amazon Data Lifecycle Manager (DLM) can automate EBS snapshot creation and retention. IAM roles are needed for DLM to manage snapshots. Tags can be used to select volumes. Option B is wrong because AWS Backup can also manage EBS snapshots, but it is not required if DLM is used; the question asks for steps to achieve the goal, and DLM is sufficient. However, AWS Backup is also a valid service, but the question expects DLM as primary. Option E is wrong because CloudWatch Events can trigger Lambda, but DLM is the managed solution.
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.
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Question Discussion
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