- A
Use AWS CloudFormation StackSets with automatic deployment to accounts in the organization.
StackSets can automatically deploy to new accounts.
- B
Create an AWS Config rule that triggers an AWS Lambda function to deploy the baseline resources when a new account is created.
Why wrong: AWS Config rules evaluate resources, they do not create resources.
- C
Store the CloudFormation template in Amazon S3 and use S3 event notifications to trigger a Lambda function that deploys the stack into the new account.
Why wrong: S3 events are not triggered by account creation.
- D
Use AWS Service Catalog to create a portfolio with the baseline products and grant access to the organization.
Why wrong: Service Catalog requires manual provisioning by users.
Question 931 of 1,546
CloudFormation StackSets for Multi-Account Deployment
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of deployment, provisioning, and automation. 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 has a multi-account AWS environment using AWS Organizations. The SysOps Administrator needs to deploy a standardized set of baseline resources (VPC, subnets, security groups, and an S3 bucket for logs) into each new member account as soon as the account is created. The administrator wants to automate this process using AWS CloudFormation and ensure that the baseline resources are deployed without manual intervention. The organization uses AWS CloudTrail and AWS Config for governance. What solution should the administrator implement?
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 AWS CloudFormation StackSets with automatic deployment to accounts in the organization.
AWS CloudFormation StackSets allow you to deploy CloudFormation stacks across multiple accounts and regions from a management account. When integrated with AWS Organizations, StackSets can automatically deploy to new member accounts as they are created, ensuring baseline resources are provisioned without manual intervention. This meets the requirement of automated deployment upon account creation. Option B is incorrect because AWS Config rules are for evaluating resource compliance, not for provisioning resources. Option C is incorrect because S3 event notifications require the S3 bucket to exist and the template to be uploaded, which does not trigger on new account creation. Option D is incorrect because AWS Service Catalog requires users to launch products manually from the portfolio; it does not automatically deploy when an account is created.
Key principle: Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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 AWS CloudFormation StackSets with automatic deployment to accounts in the organization.
Why this is correct
StackSets can automatically deploy to new accounts.
Related concept
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- ✗
Create an AWS Config rule that triggers an AWS Lambda function to deploy the baseline resources when a new account is created.
Why it's wrong here
AWS Config rules evaluate resources, they do not create resources.
- ✗
Store the CloudFormation template in Amazon S3 and use S3 event notifications to trigger a Lambda function that deploys the stack into the new account.
Why it's wrong here
S3 events are not triggered by account creation.
- ✗
Use AWS Service Catalog to create a portfolio with the baseline products and grant access to the organization.
Why it's wrong here
Service Catalog requires manual provisioning by users.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: usable hosts are not the same as total addresses
Subnetting questions often tempt you into counting all addresses. In normal IPv4 subnets, the network and broadcast addresses are not usable host addresses.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Subnetting questions test whether you can identify the network, broadcast address, usable range, mask and correct subnet. Slow down enough to calculate the block size correctly.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
- Block size helps identify subnet boundaries.
- Network and broadcast addresses are not usable hosts in normal IPv4 subnets.
- The required host count determines the smallest suitable subnet.
TExam Day Tips
- Write the block size before choosing the subnet.
- Check whether the question asks for hosts, subnets or a specific address range.
- Do not confuse /24, /25, /26 and /27 host counts.
Key takeaway
Count usable hosts — not total addresses — and remember that the network and broadcast addresses are not available to hosts in standard IPv4 subnets.
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.
Visual reference
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related SOA-C02 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
- →
Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SOA-C02 questions
1,546 questions across all exam domains
- →
AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SOA-C02 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SOA-C02 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Monitoring, Logging, and Remediation practice questions
Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to Monitoring, Logging, and Remediation.
Reliability and Business Continuity practice questions
Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to Reliability and Business Continuity.
Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation practice questions
Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation.
Security and Compliance practice questions
Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to Security and Compliance.
Networking and Content Delivery practice questions
Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to Networking and Content Delivery.
Cost and Performance Optimization practice questions
Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to Cost and Performance Optimization.
SOA-C02 fundamentals practice questions
Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to SOA-C02 fundamentals.
SOA-C02 scenario practice questions
Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to SOA-C02 scenario.
SOA-C02 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise SOA-C02 questions linked to SOA-C02 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free SOA-C02 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SOA-C02 question test?
Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation — This question tests Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation — CIDR notation defines the prefix length..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use AWS CloudFormation StackSets with automatic deployment to accounts in the organization. — AWS CloudFormation StackSets allow you to deploy CloudFormation stacks across multiple accounts and regions from a management account. When integrated with AWS Organizations, StackSets can automatically deploy to new member accounts as they are created, ensuring baseline resources are provisioned without manual intervention. This meets the requirement of automated deployment upon account creation. Option B is incorrect because AWS Config rules are for evaluating resource compliance, not for provisioning resources. Option C is incorrect because S3 event notifications require the S3 bucket to exist and the template to be uploaded, which does not trigger on new account creation. Option D is incorrect because AWS Service Catalog requires users to launch products manually from the portfolio; it does not automatically deploy when an account is created.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
Review block sizes, usable host formulas (2^n − 2), and how to find network and broadcast addresses for /24 through /30. Then practise related SOA-C02 subnetting questions on CIDR, address ranges, and subnet selection.
What is the key concept behind this question?
CIDR notation defines the prefix length.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
6 more ways this is tested on SOA-C02
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company has multiple AWS accounts managed under AWS Organizations. The SysOps administrator needs to deploy a common AWS CloudFormation template to all accounts in a specific organizational unit (OU), ensuring consistent security group configurations across the organization. Which AWS service should the administrator use to perform this deployment?
medium- ✓ A.AWS CloudFormation StackSets
- B.AWS CodePipeline with cross-account actions
- C.AWS Service Catalog portfolio
- D.AWS Systems Manager Automation
Why A: AWS CloudFormation StackSets extends the functionality of CloudFormation by allowing you to deploy a common template across multiple accounts and regions from a single management account. In this scenario, the administrator can target the specific organizational unit (OU) within AWS Organizations, ensuring consistent security group configurations are applied to all member accounts without manual intervention.
Variation 2. A company manages multiple AWS accounts under AWS Organizations. The SysOps administrator needs to deploy a baseline set of AWS Config rules and an Amazon SNS topic to each account in the organization. The deployment must be centrally managed from the management account and automatically applied to any new member account added in the future. Which solution should the administrator use?
medium- ✓ A.Create an AWS CloudFormation StackSet with the template containing the AWS Config rules and SNS topic. Configure the StackSet to deploy to the organization and enable automatic deployment to new accounts.
- B.Use AWS Service Catalog to create a product that bundles the AWS Config rules and SNS topic. Grant each account access to launch the product.
- C.Configure AWS Config conformance packs in the management account and use AWS Resource Access Manager to share them with member accounts.
- D.Create an AWS Organizations Service Control Policy (SCP) that enforces the creation of AWS Config rules and SNS topics in every account.
Why A: AWS CloudFormation StackSets can be deployed to an entire AWS Organizations organization or organizational units (OUs), and they support automatic deployment to new accounts added to the organization. By creating a StackSet with a template that defines the AWS Config rules and SNS topic, and enabling automatic deployment, the administrator ensures that every current and future member account receives the baseline configuration without manual intervention.
Variation 3. A company uses AWS Organizations with multiple member accounts. The SysOps administrator needs to deploy a common AWS CloudFormation template that creates an IAM role across all member accounts in the organization. Which AWS service should be used to deploy this template across accounts?
medium- ✓ A.AWS CloudFormation StackSets
- B.AWS CodePipeline with cross-account deployment actions
- C.AWS CloudFormation cross-stack references
- D.AWS Service Catalog
Why A: AWS CloudFormation StackSets is the correct service because it extends CloudFormation functionality to deploy templates across multiple accounts and regions from a single management account. StackSets uses a self-managed or service-managed permission model, and with AWS Organizations, it can automatically deploy to all member accounts in the organization or specified organizational units (OUs), making it ideal for deploying a common IAM role across all accounts.
Variation 4. A SysOps administrator is tasked with automating the deployment of an application across multiple AWS accounts. Which AWS service should be used to orchestrate the deployment across accounts?
easy- A.AWS CodeDeploy
- ✓ B.AWS CloudFormation StackSets
- C.AWS Service Catalog
- D.AWS Systems Manager
Why B: Option B is correct because AWS CloudFormation StackSets allows you to deploy CloudFormation stacks across multiple accounts and regions in a single operation. Option A (CodeDeploy) is for deploying applications to EC2 or on-premises, not across accounts. Option C (Service Catalog) is for creating and managing a catalog of approved IT services, not for multi-account orchestration. Option D (Systems Manager) is for management and patching, not orchestrated cross-account deployments.
Variation 5. A SysOps administrator needs to deploy a CloudFormation stack across multiple AWS accounts in an organization using AWS Organizations. The administrator wants to use a single template and a single deployment operation. Which AWS service should be used to centrally manage the deployment?
easy- A.AWS Systems Manager
- B.AWS OpsWorks Stacks
- C.AWS CodePipeline
- ✓ D.AWS CloudFormation StackSets
Why D: Option D is correct because AWS CloudFormation StackSets allow deploying stacks across multiple accounts and regions from a single template. Option A is incorrect because Systems Manager is for operational management. Option B is incorrect because OpsWorks is for configuration management. Option C is incorrect because CodePipeline is for CI/CD pipelines.
Variation 6. A SysOps administrator needs to deploy the same AWS CloudFormation template across multiple AWS accounts and Regions in a single operation. The administrator wants to manage the deployment from a single management account. Which AWS service should the administrator use?
medium- A.AWS CodeDeploy
- B.AWS Elastic Beanstalk
- ✓ C.AWS CloudFormation StackSets
- D.AWS Service Catalog
Why C: AWS CloudFormation StackSets extends the functionality of CloudFormation by allowing you to deploy the same template across multiple accounts and Regions from a single management account. StackSets uses a self-managed or service-managed permission model to create, update, and delete stacks across target accounts in a single operation, making it the correct choice for this multi-account, multi-Region deployment requirement.
Keep practising
More SOA-C02 practice questions
- A company uses an Amazon DynamoDB table with on-demand capacity mode. The table handles a workload with a steady baselin…
- A company uses Amazon CloudWatch Logs to store application logs. The SysOps administrator needs to count the occurrences…
- A SysOps administrator needs to monitor the CPU utilization of an Amazon EC2 instance and send an alert when it exceeds…
- A SysOps administrator needs to monitor the CPU utilization of an Amazon EC2 instance fleet and send an alert when the a…
- A company's security policy requires that all Amazon S3 buckets must have server-side encryption enabled. The SysOps adm…
- A SysOps administrator uses AWS CloudFormation to deploy a stack that includes an Amazon EC2 instance. The administrator…
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.