SOA-C02 Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of deployment, provisioning, and automation. 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.
A SysOps Administrator attached the IAM policy shown in the exhibit to a user. The user is unable to terminate an EC2 instance. What is the MOST likely reason?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
An explicit Deny statement overrides the Allow statement.
The policy includes an Allow statement for ec2:* actions, but also an explicit Deny statement for ec2:TerminateInstances. An explicit Deny overrides any Allow, so the user is unable to terminate instances. Option A is incorrect because the Allow does include ec2:TerminateInstances via ec2:*. Option B is incorrect because the resource ARN is not the issue; the Deny applies to all resources. Option C is incorrect because the policy does allow ec2:* but the Deny takes precedence.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The policy does not include ec2:TerminateInstances in the Allow statement.
Why it's wrong here
ec2:* includes all actions.
✗
The policy does not specify the correct resource ARN.
Why it's wrong here
The Deny specifies the correct resource.
✗
The policy does not allow ec2:* actions.
Why it's wrong here
ec2:* is allowed.
✓
An explicit Deny statement overrides the Allow statement.
Why this is correct
Explicit Deny always overrides Allow.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
The first matching ACL entry is used.
There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
→Check inbound versus outbound direction.
→Read the ACL from top to bottom.
→Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SOA-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation — This question tests Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: An explicit Deny statement overrides the Allow statement. — The policy includes an Allow statement for ec2:* actions, but also an explicit Deny statement for ec2:TerminateInstances. An explicit Deny overrides any Allow, so the user is unable to terminate instances. Option A is incorrect because the Allow does include ec2:TerminateInstances via ec2:*. Option B is incorrect because the resource ARN is not the issue; the Deny applies to all resources. Option C is incorrect because the policy does allow ec2:* but the Deny takes precedence.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SOA-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Question Discussion
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