CV0-004 Operations and Support Practice Question
A cloud administrator needs to apply security patches to a fleet of EC2 instances running Windows Server. The patches must be applied during a maintenance window to minimize downtime. Which AWS service can automate patching?
⚠ Common exam trap
CV0-004 often tests whether candidates confuse vulnerability assessment tools like Inspector with remediation tools like Patch Manager, or pick CloudFormation because it sounds like automation.
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
✓
AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager
AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager automates the process of patching EC2 instances, including Windows Server, and supports maintenance windows to control when patches are applied. It can scan for missing patches and install them on a schedule, minimizing downtime.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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AWS CloudFormation
Why it's wrong here
CloudFormation provisions infrastructure as code; it can create instances and baseline configuration but holds no patch compliance inventory, scheduling or remediation engine. Systems Manager Patch Manager performs those tasks, whereas CloudFormation suits repeatable stack deployment, not ongoing patch automation.
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AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager
Why this is correct
Patch Manager, part of AWS Systems Manager, applies OS and security patches to managed EC2 instances on a schedule you define. Configuring a maintenance window satisfies the low-downtime constraint, since patching runs automatically during the specified period rather than requiring manual intervention on each instance.
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AWS Config
Why it's wrong here
AWS Config records resource configuration changes and evaluates compliance against rules; it cannot push patches to instances. It is tempting because it audits patch compliance state, which is a related governance task, but remediation requires AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager to run the patching during a maintenance window.
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Amazon Inspector
Why it's wrong here
Amazon Inspector is a vulnerability management service that scans for software vulnerabilities and unintended network exposure, but it does not apply patches—it only identifies missing patches. The scenario requires automated *patching*, not just detection. Inspector would be correct if the task were to assess which patches are missing before a separate tool like AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager applies them.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This CV0-004 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 CV0-004 exam.