- A
The alarm evaluates CPU utilization every 5 minutes and requires 3 consecutive breaches to trigger.
Why wrong: EvaluationPeriods=1, not 3.
- B
The alarm will automatically resolve when CPU utilization drops below 80% for one period.
Why wrong: The alarm will transition to OK when the metric is below threshold for the specified number of periods (1). This is true, but the statement says 'automatically resolve', which is misleading but not incorrect. However, the statement is not the best description of the alarm's behavior.
- C
The alarm triggered because the average CPU utilization over 5 minutes exceeded 80% for one consecutive period.
Exactly correct based on the configuration.
- D
The alarm sends a notification to the SNS topic every 5 minutes while in ALARM state.
Why wrong: Alarms send notification on state change, not repeatedly.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is that the alarm triggered because the average CPU utilization over 5 minutes exceeded 80% for one consecutive period. This is determined by the alarm configuration’s key parameters: Period is set to 5 minutes, Statistic is Average, Threshold is 80%, and Datapoints to alarm is 1 out of 1, meaning the alarm evaluates a single data point and enters ALARM state immediately after that one period’s average exceeds the threshold. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this tests your ability to interpret CloudWatch alarm configuration ALARM state example scenarios, where the common trap is confusing “Datapoints to alarm” with “Evaluation periods”—here, 1 out of 1 means no consecutive period requirement, so the alarm fires on the first breach. A helpful memory tip: “One and done” for 1 out of 1 datapoints means a single high average triggers the alarm.
SOA-C02 Monitoring, Logging, and Remediation Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring, logging, and remediation. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. A SysOps administrator reviews the CloudWatch alarm configuration. The alarm is in ALARM state. Which statement accurately describes the alarm's behavior?
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
The alarm triggered because the average CPU utilization over 5 minutes exceeded 80% for one consecutive period.
Option C is correct because the alarm configuration shows 'Period: 5 minutes' and 'Statistic: Average' with 'Threshold: 80%' and 'Datapoints to alarm: 1 out of 1'. This means the alarm evaluates the average CPU utilization over a single 5-minute period, and if that average exceeds 80%, the alarm transitions to ALARM state immediately after one period's data point is available.
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.
- ✗
The alarm evaluates CPU utilization every 5 minutes and requires 3 consecutive breaches to trigger.
Why it's wrong here
EvaluationPeriods=1, not 3.
- ✗
The alarm will automatically resolve when CPU utilization drops below 80% for one period.
Why it's wrong here
The alarm will transition to OK when the metric is below threshold for the specified number of periods (1). This is true, but the statement says 'automatically resolve', which is misleading but not incorrect. However, the statement is not the best description of the alarm's behavior.
- ✓
The alarm triggered because the average CPU utilization over 5 minutes exceeded 80% for one consecutive period.
Why this is correct
Exactly correct based on the configuration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The alarm sends a notification to the SNS topic every 5 minutes while in ALARM state.
Why it's wrong here
Alarms send notification on state change, not repeatedly.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume 'Datapoints to alarm' implies multiple consecutive breaches (like 3 out of 3) without reading the actual values, or they confuse the alarm's evaluation period with the notification frequency, leading them to pick Option A or D.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
CloudWatch alarms evaluate metrics based on the specified period, statistic, and threshold, using the 'M out of N' datapoints model. Here, '1 out of 1' means a single breaching datapoint triggers the alarm, which is useful for immediate notification on spikes. In contrast, '3 out of 3' would require three consecutive breaching periods, reducing false positives. The alarm state transitions are governed by the 'Treat missing data' setting (default: missing treated as breaching), which can affect behavior if data gaps occur.
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 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.
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The alarm triggered because the average CPU utilization over 5 minutes exceeded 80% for one consecutive period. — Option C is correct because the alarm configuration shows 'Period: 5 minutes' and 'Statistic: Average' with 'Threshold: 80%' and 'Datapoints to alarm: 1 out of 1'. This means the alarm evaluates the average CPU utilization over a single 5-minute period, and if that average exceeds 80%, the alarm transitions to ALARM state immediately after one period's data point is available.
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: Jun 24, 2026
This SOA-C02 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Amazon Web Services certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SOA-C02 exam.
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