SOA-C02 Question 149
Single answerYour team frequently provisions EC2 instances with a specific configuration, including installing custom software, applying security patches, and configuring environment variables. The team has been doing this manually for each instance, which is time-consuming and error-prone. As an AWS SysOps Administrator, how can you automate this process most effectively?
- A
Use an AWS CloudFormation template to define the EC2 instance configuration and automate the provisioning process.
- B
Write a custom Python script to launch EC2 instances and configure them using the AWS SDK.
- C
Manually create an Amazon Machine Image (AMI) with the desired configuration and use it to launch new EC2 instances.
- D
Use AWS Config to automate the deployment and configuration of EC2 instances.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
AWS CloudFormation is the optimal solution for automating the provisioning and configuration of EC2 instances. It allows you to define the infrastructure as code, ensuring repeatability, consistency, and reduced manual intervention while leveraging native AWS tools. Other options either require more manual effort or are not designed for this specific use case.
- A. Correct.
Using an AWS CloudFormation template is the most effective way to automate provisioning and configuring EC2 instances. It allows you to define the infrastructure as code, ensuring consistency and reducing manual effort.
- B. Incorrect.
While a custom Python script using the AWS SDK could work, it requires significant development effort and maintenance compared to the native automation capabilities provided by AWS CloudFormation.
- C. Incorrect.
Manually creating an AMI with the desired configuration can be helpful for saving time when launching instances, but the process of creating and updating the AMI itself is not automated, making it less effective for repeatable automation.
- D. Incorrect.
AWS Config is a service focused on compliance and monitoring configuration changes, not automating infrastructure deployment or instance configuration.