The answer is that the IAM policy fails because it specifies the wrong resource ARN for the `logs:CreateLogGroup` action. CloudWatch Logs requires the resource for `CreateLogGroup` to be the log group ARN, such as `arn:aws:logs:us-east-1:123456789012:log-group:*`, but the policy incorrectly uses a log stream ARN like `arn:aws:logs:us-east-1:123456789012:log-group:MyAppLogs:log-stream:*`. Since the application is trying to write to a log group that does not yet exist, the `CreateLogGroup` call is denied because the resource scope does not match the log group level, causing the entire write operation to fail. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this tests your understanding of how IAM resource-level permissions interact with CloudWatch Logs API actions, a common trap where candidates overlook that `CreateLogGroup` operates on a log group, not a log stream. A helpful memory tip is: "Group for Create, Stream for Write"—always use the log group ARN for creation permissions and the log stream ARN for writing events.
SOA-C02 Monitoring, Logging, and Remediation Practice Question
This SOA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of monitoring, logging, and remediation. 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.
Refer to the exhibit. An IAM policy is attached to an EC2 instance role. The application on the instance attempts to write logs to a log group named 'MyAppLogs' in CloudWatch Logs but fails. What is the likely cause?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The policy does not grant permission to create the log group because the resource for CreateLogGroup is specified as the log stream ARN.
The policy grants `logs:CreateLogGroup` but specifies the resource as the log stream ARN (`arn:aws:logs:us-east-1:123456789012:log-group:MyAppLogs:log-stream:*`). CloudWatch Logs requires the resource for `CreateLogGroup` to be the log group ARN (`arn:aws:logs:us-east-1:123456789012:log-group:*` or a specific log group name), not a log stream. Since the application is attempting to write logs to a log group that does not yet exist, the `CreateLogGroup` call fails due to the incorrect resource ARN, causing the overall write operation to fail.
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 EC2 instance does not have an internet gateway to reach CloudWatch Logs.
Why it's wrong here
Assuming VPC endpoints or NAT, connectivity is not the issue per the policy.
✗
The log group name in the policy does not match the application's log group.
Why it's wrong here
The policy uses 'MyAppLogs' which matches.
✓
The policy does not grant permission to create the log group because the resource for CreateLogGroup is specified as the log stream ARN.
Why this is correct
CreateLogGroup requires the resource to be the log group ARN, not the stream.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The policy lacks permission for 'logs:DescribeLogGroups'.
Why it's wrong here
DescribeLogGroups is not required to write logs.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often overlook the resource ARN mismatch for `CreateLogGroup` and assume the failure is due to a missing permission or network issue, but the policy explicitly includes the action with an incorrectly scoped resource.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When an application writes to CloudWatch Logs, the AWS SDK or CLI first attempts to create the log group if it does not exist, then creates a log stream, and finally puts log events. The `CreateLogGroup` API call requires the resource ARN to be the log group itself (e.g., `arn:aws:logs:region:account:log-group:MyAppLogs:*`), not a log stream ARN. A common real-world scenario is when a developer copies a policy from a working configuration that only grants `PutLogEvents` on a log stream and forgets to adjust the resource for `CreateLogGroup`, leading to silent failures when the log group is missing.
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.
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 policy does not grant permission to create the log group because the resource for CreateLogGroup is specified as the log stream ARN. — The policy grants `logs:CreateLogGroup` but specifies the resource as the log stream ARN (`arn:aws:logs:us-east-1:123456789012:log-group:MyAppLogs:log-stream:*`). CloudWatch Logs requires the resource for `CreateLogGroup` to be the log group ARN (`arn:aws:logs:us-east-1:123456789012:log-group:*` or a specific log group name), not a log stream. Since the application is attempting to write logs to a log group that does not yet exist, the `CreateLogGroup` call fails due to the incorrect resource ARN, causing the overall write operation to fail.
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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Question Discussion
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