- A
Attach an IAM role to each EC2 instance that includes permission for logs:PutLogEvents.
The IAM role must allow the CloudWatch agent to call PutLogEvents to send log data to CloudWatch Logs.
- B
Create an S3 bucket and configure the EC2 instances to write logs directly to the bucket.
Why wrong: Direct write to S3 does not integrate with CloudWatch Logs; logs would need to be pulled via Lambda or other means.
- C
Install and configure the unified CloudWatch agent on each EC2 instance.
The unified CloudWatch agent can collect logs and metrics from EC2 instances and send them to CloudWatch Logs.
- D
Create a VPC endpoint for CloudWatch Logs to allow private connectivity.
Why wrong: VPC endpoints are optional and used for private connectivity, not required for standard setup.
- E
Export the logs from CloudWatch Logs to an Amazon S3 bucket for long-term retention.
Why wrong: Exporting is an optional step for archival, not required for initial centralized logging setup.
SOA-C02 Monitoring, Logging, and Remediation Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring, logging, and remediation. 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.
Which TWO actions should a SysOps administrator take to set up centralized logging from multiple Amazon EC2 instances running Amazon Linux 2 to Amazon CloudWatch Logs?
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
Attach an IAM role to each EC2 instance that includes permission for logs:PutLogEvents.
Option A is correct because the EC2 instances need an IAM role with the logs:PutLogEvents permission to authenticate and authorize log delivery to CloudWatch Logs. Without this permission, the CloudWatch agent cannot send log data to the log stream, resulting in authorization failures.
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.
- ✓
Attach an IAM role to each EC2 instance that includes permission for logs:PutLogEvents.
Why this is correct
The IAM role must allow the CloudWatch agent to call PutLogEvents to send log data to CloudWatch Logs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create an S3 bucket and configure the EC2 instances to write logs directly to the bucket.
Why it's wrong here
Direct write to S3 does not integrate with CloudWatch Logs; logs would need to be pulled via Lambda or other means.
- ✓
Install and configure the unified CloudWatch agent on each EC2 instance.
Why this is correct
The unified CloudWatch agent can collect logs and metrics from EC2 instances and send them to CloudWatch Logs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create a VPC endpoint for CloudWatch Logs to allow private connectivity.
Why it's wrong here
VPC endpoints are optional and used for private connectivity, not required for standard setup.
- ✗
Export the logs from CloudWatch Logs to an Amazon S3 bucket for long-term retention.
Why it's wrong here
Exporting is an optional step for archival, not required for initial centralized logging setup.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse the unified CloudWatch agent with the older CloudWatch Logs agent or think that a VPC endpoint is required for any logging setup, when in fact the two mandatory actions are attaching an IAM role with the correct permissions and installing/configuring the unified CloudWatch agent.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The unified CloudWatch agent (formerly the CloudWatch Logs agent) uses the PutLogEvents API to send log events to a log stream within a log group. The agent requires an IAM role with the logs:PutLogEvents, logs:CreateLogStream, and logs:DescribeLogStreams permissions to function correctly. Under the hood, the agent reads log files using a tail-like mechanism and batches log events to optimize API calls, with a maximum batch size of 1 MB or 10,000 events per PutLogEvents request.
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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
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?
Monitoring, Logging, and Remediation — This question tests Monitoring, Logging, and Remediation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Attach an IAM role to each EC2 instance that includes permission for logs:PutLogEvents. — Option A is correct because the EC2 instances need an IAM role with the logs:PutLogEvents permission to authenticate and authorize log delivery to CloudWatch Logs. Without this permission, the CloudWatch agent cannot send log data to the log stream, resulting in authorization failures.
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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