The correct answer is to create a CloudWatch alarm on the EBS metric VolumeQueueLength for the attached volume. This is because Amazon EBS automatically sends volume-level metrics, including VolumeQueueLength, to CloudWatch every minute without any additional configuration, making it the direct and simplest way to monitor disk I/O pressure. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of the distinction between EC2 instance-level metrics (which lack disk queue data) and EBS volume-level metrics, which are native to CloudWatch. A common trap is assuming you need the CloudWatch agent or that EC2 metrics include disk queue length, but EBS metrics are separate and always available for attached volumes. Remember the memory tip: “EBS owns the queue, EC2 owns the instance”—if you need disk queue length, look to the volume metrics, not the instance metrics.
SOA-C02 Monitoring, Logging, and Remediation Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring, logging, and remediation. 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 company runs a web application on an EC2 instance that uses Amazon EBS volumes. The SysOps administrator notices that the instance's disk queue length is consistently high, and the application is experiencing I/O latency. The administrator wants to set up monitoring to alert when the disk queue length exceeds a threshold. Which steps should the administrator take to achieve this? The instance is already sending CloudWatch metrics.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a CloudWatch alarm on the EBS metric VolumeQueueLength for the attached volume.
Option C is correct because the EBS volume metrics (e.g., VolumeQueueLength) are sent to CloudWatch automatically. Option A is wrong because EC2 metrics do not include disk queue length. Option B is wrong because the CloudWatch agent is not required for EBS metrics. Option D is wrong because VPC Flow Logs capture network traffic, not disk metrics.
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.
✗
Install the CloudWatch agent on the instance and configure it to collect disk queue length.
Why it's wrong here
The CloudWatch agent can collect disk metrics, but EBS metrics are already available.
✓
Create a CloudWatch alarm on the EBS metric VolumeQueueLength for the attached volume.
Why this is correct
VolumeQueueLength is an EBS metric available in CloudWatch.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable VPC Flow Logs to capture disk I/O metrics.
Why it's wrong here
VPC Flow Logs capture network traffic, not disk I/O.
✗
Create a CloudWatch alarm on the EC2 metric DiskQueueLength.
Why it's wrong here
DiskQueueLength is not an EC2 metric; it is an EBS metric.
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 healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
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.
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: Create a CloudWatch alarm on the EBS metric VolumeQueueLength for the attached volume. — Option C is correct because the EBS volume metrics (e.g., VolumeQueueLength) are sent to CloudWatch automatically. Option A is wrong because EC2 metrics do not include disk queue length. Option B is wrong because the CloudWatch agent is not required for EBS metrics. Option D is wrong because VPC Flow Logs capture network traffic, not disk metrics.
What should I do if I get this SOA-C02 question wrong?
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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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.
Question Discussion
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