← SOA-C02·Amazon Web Services

Question 214 of 1,546

Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation →easyMultiple SelectObjective-mapped

SOA-C02 Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation Practice Question

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 SysOps administrator is deploying a CloudFormation stack that includes an Amazon EC2 instance. The instance needs to have the latest patch level at launch. Which TWO methods can accomplish this? (Choose TWO.)

A
Create a custom AMI with the latest patches.
A custom AMI ensures the instance is already patched at launch.
B
Include a user data script that runs the patch command.
Why wrong: User data scripts run after the instance starts, but patching might not complete before the instance is considered ready.
C
Use AWS CodeDeploy to run a patch script.
Why wrong: CodeDeploy is for application deployment, not OS patching.
D
Use a CloudFormation creation policy to run a Systems Manager command for patching.
A creation policy can wait for the patching command to complete before signaling success.
E
Configure an AWS Config rule to enforce patching.
Why wrong: Config rules evaluate configuration, they do not perform patching.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

Create a custom AMI with the latest patches.

Options A and D are correct. Using a custom AMI that already includes the latest patches ensures the instance is patched from the start (Option A). Alternatively, using a CloudFormation creation policy with AWS Systems Manager's AWS-RunPatchBaseline document allows patching at launch before the instance signals completion (Option D). Option B (user data script) might not run before the instance becomes available, so patching may not be complete at launch. Option C (AWS CodeDeploy) is for application deployment, not OS patching. Option E (AWS Config rules) enforces compliance but does not patch at launch.

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 custom AMI with the latest patches.
Why this is correct
A custom AMI ensures the instance is already patched at launch.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Include a user data script that runs the patch command.
Why it's wrong here
User data scripts run after the instance starts, but patching might not complete before the instance is considered ready.
✗
Use AWS CodeDeploy to run a patch script.
Why it's wrong here
CodeDeploy is for application deployment, not OS patching.
✓
Use a CloudFormation creation policy to run a Systems Manager command for patching.
Why this is correct
A creation policy can wait for the patching command to complete before signaling success.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Configure an AWS Config rule to enforce patching.
Why it's wrong here
Config rules evaluate configuration, they do not perform patching.

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 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. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. 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.

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.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this SOA-C02 question test?

Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation — This question tests Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Create a custom AMI with the latest patches. — Options A and D are correct. Using a custom AMI that already includes the latest patches ensures the instance is patched from the start (Option A). Alternatively, using a CloudFormation creation policy with AWS Systems Manager's AWS-RunPatchBaseline document allows patching at launch before the instance signals completion (Option D). Option B (user data script) might not run before the instance becomes available, so patching may not be complete at launch. Option C (AWS CodeDeploy) is for application deployment, not OS patching. Option E (AWS Config rules) enforces compliance but does not patch at launch.

What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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