The answer is that the user can stop an EC2 instance. This is correct because the IAM policy explicitly allows the ec2:StopInstances action without any corresponding deny statement, while the only explicit denial is for ec2:TerminateInstances. In AWS IAM, an explicit deny overrides any allow, but since no deny exists for stopping instances, the allow takes effect. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the IAM policy evaluation logic, specifically that an explicit deny for one action does not block other actions unless they are also denied. A common trap is assuming that a deny for terminate also blocks stop, but they are separate API calls. Remember the memory tip: “Deny is a sniper, not a shotgun”—it only blocks the exact action it names.
SOA-C02 Reliability and Business Continuity Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of reliability and business continuity. 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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Stop an EC2 instance.
Option C is correct because the IAM policy allows ec2:StopInstances and does not deny it. The denial is only for ec2:TerminateInstances. Option A is wrong because StartInstances is allowed. Option B is wrong because Describe* actions are allowed. Option D is wrong because TerminateInstances is explicitly denied.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Start an EC2 instance.
Why it's wrong here
The user can start instances, but the question asks which action is allowed; all listed actions except terminate are allowed.
✗
Describe EC2 instances.
Why it's wrong here
Describe* is allowed, but the question asks for a specific action; stop is also allowed.
✓
Stop an EC2 instance.
Why this is correct
StopInstances is explicitly allowed and not denied.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Terminate an EC2 instance.
Why it's wrong here
TerminateInstances is explicitly denied.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SOA-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Reliability and Business Continuity — This question tests Reliability and Business Continuity — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Stop an EC2 instance. — Option C is correct because the IAM policy allows ec2:StopInstances and does not deny it. The denial is only for ec2:TerminateInstances. Option A is wrong because StartInstances is allowed. Option B is wrong because Describe* actions are allowed. Option D is wrong because TerminateInstances is explicitly denied.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SOA-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Question Discussion
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