The correct answer is to isolate the instance by removing it from security groups, take a forensic snapshot, and then terminate the instance. This sequence is technically sound because removing the instance from its security groups immediately cuts all network traffic, containing the breach without destroying volatile data, while the EBS snapshot preserves the root volume and memory state for offline forensic analysis, and termination ultimately eradicates the threat from the environment. On the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate SOA-C02 exam, this question tests your understanding of the incident response lifecycle—specifically the “preserve evidence, then contain and eradicate” best practice, often with a trap where candidates mistakenly choose to patch or reattach the volume instead of isolating first. A reliable memory tip is the mnemonic “SIT”: Snapshot first, Isolate via security group removal, then Terminate—ensuring you never skip containment before eradication.
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.
Which THREE actions can be taken to remediate an EC2 instance that has been compromised according to security best practices? (Select THREE.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Terminate the instance after taking a forensic snapshot.
Terminating the instance after taking a forensic snapshot (Option A) is correct because it ensures the compromised instance is removed from the environment, preventing further malicious activity, while the snapshot preserves the volatile data (memory, disk state) for offline forensic analysis. This aligns with the AWS security best practice of 'preserve evidence, then contain and eradicate' by using EBS snapshots to capture the root volume and any additional data volumes before termination.
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.
✓
Terminate the instance after taking a forensic snapshot.
Why this is correct
Termination stops the compromised instance after evidence is preserved.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Create an AMI of the instance for forensic analysis.
Why this is correct
An AMI preserves the state for investigation.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Reboot the instance to clear the compromise.
Why it's wrong here
Rebooting does not remove malware or unauthorized access.
✓
Isolate the instance by removing it from security groups.
Why this is correct
Isolation prevents further damage.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Apply any pending patches and restart the application.
Why it's wrong here
Patching may not remove existing compromise; isolation and forensic analysis are needed first.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'forensic analysis' with 'creating an AMI' (Option B) instead of using a snapshot, or they mistakenly believe that rebooting (Option C) or patching (Option E) can remediate a compromise, when in fact these actions destroy evidence and fail to remove the attacker's foothold.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
When an EC2 instance is compromised, the recommended workflow is to isolate the instance (e.g., by modifying security group rules to deny all traffic) to prevent lateral movement, then create a forensic snapshot of the EBS volumes (using the `CreateSnapshot` API) to capture the file system state for analysis. After evidence is preserved, the instance should be terminated (using `TerminateInstances`) to ensure the compromise is fully eradicated, as opposed to stopping or hibernating, which leaves the instance state intact and potentially allows the attacker to persist. AWS Incident Response guides emphasize that creating an AMI (Option B) is not ideal because AMIs include metadata and may not capture all forensic artifacts (e.g., instance store volumes, memory), whereas a snapshot provides a raw block-level copy suitable for analysis.
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 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 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: Terminate the instance after taking a forensic snapshot. — Terminating the instance after taking a forensic snapshot (Option A) is correct because it ensures the compromised instance is removed from the environment, preventing further malicious activity, while the snapshot preserves the volatile data (memory, disk state) for offline forensic analysis. This aligns with the AWS security best practice of 'preserve evidence, then contain and eradicate' by using EBS snapshots to capture the root volume and any additional data volumes before termination.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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