- A
Create an Amazon Machine Image (AMI) of the instance while it is running.
Why wrong: Creating an AMI while the instance is running does not guarantee a consistent state due to ongoing write operations, and it does not immediately preserve the root volume for forensics.
- B
Stop the instance and create an Amazon EBS snapshot of the root volume.
Correct: Stopping the instance ensures data integrity, then creating a snapshot preserves the exact state for forensic analysis. The ASG automatically launches a replacement instance.
- C
Detach the root volume from the instance and create a snapshot of the volume for analysis.
Why wrong: Incorrect: You cannot detach the root volume from a running EC2 instance. The instance must be stopped first, making this option not feasible as a first action.
- D
Terminate the instance immediately to stop any malicious activity.
Why wrong: Terminating the instance destroys the root volume and any forensic evidence, which is not acceptable when preservation is required.
Forensic Analysis of Compromised EC2
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. A key principle to apply: auto Scaling group. 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 suspects that an Amazon Linux 2 EC2 instance has been compromised. The instance is part of an Auto Scaling group and is currently running. The administrator needs to preserve the root volume for forensic analysis while minimizing the impact to the application. Which action should the administrator take FIRST?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
Stop the instance and create an Amazon EBS snapshot of the root volume.
Option B is correct because stopping the instance ensures data integrity and allows you to create an EBS snapshot of the root volume for forensic analysis. Since the instance is part of an Auto Scaling group, the group automatically launches a replacement instance, minimizing application impact. Option C is incorrect because you cannot detach the root volume of a running EC2 instance; the instance must be stopped first. Option A does not preserve the exact state for forensics due to ongoing writes. Option D destroys the volume and evidence.
Key principle: Auto Scaling group
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 an Amazon Machine Image (AMI) of the instance while it is running.
Why it's wrong here
Creating an AMI while the instance is running does not guarantee a consistent state due to ongoing write operations, and it does not immediately preserve the root volume for forensics.
- ✓
Stop the instance and create an Amazon EBS snapshot of the root volume.
Why this is correct
Correct: Stopping the instance ensures data integrity, then creating a snapshot preserves the exact state for forensic analysis. The ASG automatically launches a replacement instance.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Auto Scaling group
- ✗
Detach the root volume from the instance and create a snapshot of the volume for analysis.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: You cannot detach the root volume from a running EC2 instance. The instance must be stopped first, making this option not feasible as a first action.
- ✗
Terminate the instance immediately to stop any malicious activity.
Why it's wrong here
Terminating the instance destroys the root volume and any forensic evidence, which is not acceptable when preservation is required.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap is that candidates may think they can detach the root volume from a running instance (Option C) to avoid stopping it, but AWS does not allow detaching the root volume of a running instance. Stopping the instance (Option B) is necessary before creating a snapshot for forensics, and the Auto Scaling group handles replacement automatically.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When detaching an EBS root volume from a running instance, the instance must be stopped or the volume must be detached while the instance is running (if the instance supports it, e.g., Nitro-based instances). For forensic analysis, a snapshot of the detached volume should be taken before reattaching or discarding it, as snapshots are point-in-time and stored in Amazon S3. In practice, the administrator would detach the volume, snapshot it, then optionally reattach it to a separate forensic instance for analysis, while the Auto Scaling group launches a new instance to restore application availability.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Auto Scaling group
- EBS snapshot
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
Auto Scaling group
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Auto Scaling group Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review auto Scaling group, then practise related SOA-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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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 — Auto Scaling group.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Stop the instance and create an Amazon EBS snapshot of the root volume. — Option B is correct because stopping the instance ensures data integrity and allows you to create an EBS snapshot of the root volume for forensic analysis. Since the instance is part of an Auto Scaling group, the group automatically launches a replacement instance, minimizing application impact. Option C is incorrect because you cannot detach the root volume of a running EC2 instance; the instance must be stopped first. Option A does not preserve the exact state for forensics due to ongoing writes. Option D destroys the volume and evidence.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
Review auto Scaling group, then practise related SOA-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Auto Scaling group
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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