- A
Use an AWS Config rule to mark non-compliant instances and automatically terminate them.
Why wrong: Config can detect but not block the launch in real-time.
- B
Use an AWS Lambda function that is triggered by EC2 launch events to terminate non-compliant instances.
Why wrong: This is reactive and may incur costs and delays.
- C
Use AWS CloudTrail to monitor and alert on any instance launched with a different AMI.
Why wrong: CloudTrail logs actions, but does not prevent them.
- D
Use an IAM policy that denies the ec2:RunInstances action unless the AMI ID matches the approved one.
This prevents any non-compliant launch attempt.
Question 200 of 1,546
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.
An organization needs to enforce that all Amazon EC2 instances launched in a specific AWS account are created from a baseline Amazon Machine Image (AMI) that includes required security patches. The AMI ID is ami-0abcdef1234567890. What is the MOST efficient way to enforce this requirement?
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 an IAM policy that denies the ec2:RunInstances action unless the AMI ID matches the approved one.
Option D is correct because an IAM policy with a condition that denies ec2:RunInstances unless the AMI ID matches the approved one (ami-0abcdef1234567890) prevents non-compliant instances from being launched at all. This is the most efficient approach as it enforces the requirement proactively at the API level, avoiding the need for reactive detection or termination.
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.
- ✗
Use an AWS Config rule to mark non-compliant instances and automatically terminate them.
Why it's wrong here
Config can detect but not block the launch in real-time.
- ✗
Use an AWS Lambda function that is triggered by EC2 launch events to terminate non-compliant instances.
Why it's wrong here
This is reactive and may incur costs and delays.
- ✗
Use AWS CloudTrail to monitor and alert on any instance launched with a different AMI.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail logs actions, but does not prevent them.
- ✓
Use an IAM policy that denies the ec2:RunInstances action unless the AMI ID matches the approved one.
Why this is correct
This prevents any non-compliant launch attempt.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often choose reactive solutions (like AWS Config or Lambda) because they seem more flexible, but the question asks for the 'MOST efficient' way, which is preventive enforcement via IAM policies at the API level.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The IAM policy uses a condition key like ec2:ImageId with a StringEquals condition to restrict the AMI ID. This works because the ec2:RunInstances API call includes the ImageId parameter, and IAM policies are evaluated before the API action is executed, providing a deny-by-default or explicit deny enforcement. In a real-world scenario, this approach is often combined with an organization's golden AMI pipeline, where the approved AMI ID is updated via AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store, and the IAM policy references the parameter dynamically using the iam:ResourceTag condition.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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: Use an IAM policy that denies the ec2:RunInstances action unless the AMI ID matches the approved one. — Option D is correct because an IAM policy with a condition that denies ec2:RunInstances unless the AMI ID matches the approved one (ami-0abcdef1234567890) prevents non-compliant instances from being launched at all. This is the most efficient approach as it enforces the requirement proactively at the API level, avoiding the need for reactive detection or termination.
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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