- A
AWS Config
AWS Config offers managed rules like 'iam-user-mfa-enabled' to check MFA compliance. It can automatically trigger a remediation action (e.g., disabling access keys) when a noncompliant user is detected, meeting the requirement for a fully managed solution without custom scripts.
- B
AWS Shield
Why wrong: AWS Shield is a managed DDoS protection service. It does not evaluate IAM user configurations or provide compliance rule evaluation and automatic remediation.
- C
AWS CloudTrail
Why wrong: AWS CloudTrail records API activity for auditing, but it does not evaluate resource compliance or automatically trigger remediation actions. It is a logging service, not a configuration compliance service.
- D
AWS WAF
Why wrong: AWS WAF is a web application firewall that filters HTTP/HTTPS traffic. It does not check IAM user MFA status or perform remediation on IAM resources.
Quick Answer
The answer is AWS Config. This service is the correct choice because it offers a fully managed, native AWS solution with the `iam-user-mfa-enabled` managed rule that continuously evaluates whether each IAM user has an active virtual MFA device. When AWS Config detects a non-compliant user—such as one who disables or has an inactive MFA—it can automatically trigger a remediation action through AWS Systems Manager Automation to disable the user’s access keys, requiring no custom scripts. On the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner CLF-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how AWS Config combines compliance evaluation with automated remediation, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly choose IAM or CloudTrail. Remember, IAM handles permissions but does not enforce ongoing compliance, while CloudTrail only logs changes. A simple memory tip: think of AWS Config as the “compliance cop” that both spots the violation and calls in the “remediation tow truck” via Systems Manager Automation.
CLF-C02 Security and Compliance Practice Question
This CLF-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 has 50 IAM users in a single AWS account. The security policy requires that every IAM user must have a virtual MFA device enabled for AWS Management Console access. The company wants to automatically detect any user who disables or has an inactive MFA device and immediately revoke that user's ability to access AWS resources by disabling their access keys. The solution must be fully managed, require no custom scripts, and use native AWS services. Which AWS service should the company use to define the compliance rule and automatically trigger the remediation action?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"immediately / without restart"Why it matters: Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
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 Config
AWS Config is the correct service because it provides managed rules (such as the `iam-user-mfa-enabled` managed rule) that continuously evaluate IAM user configurations against compliance policies. When a user disables or has an inactive virtual MFA device, AWS Config can detect the non-compliant resource and automatically trigger a remediation action via AWS Systems Manager Automation, which can disable the user's access keys without any custom scripts.
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.
- ✓
AWS Config
Why this is correct
AWS Config offers managed rules like 'iam-user-mfa-enabled' to check MFA compliance. It can automatically trigger a remediation action (e.g., disabling access keys) when a noncompliant user is detected, meeting the requirement for a fully managed solution without custom scripts.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "immediately / without restart" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
AWS Shield
Why it's wrong here
AWS Shield is a managed DDoS protection service. It does not evaluate IAM user configurations or provide compliance rule evaluation and automatic remediation.
- ✗
AWS CloudTrail
Why it's wrong here
AWS CloudTrail records API activity for auditing, but it does not evaluate resource compliance or automatically trigger remediation actions. It is a logging service, not a configuration compliance service.
- ✗
AWS WAF
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse AWS CloudTrail's logging and monitoring capabilities with AWS Config's compliance evaluation and remediation features, mistakenly thinking that CloudTrail can automatically enforce security policies when it only records events for analysis.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
AWS Config uses a rule engine that evaluates resource configurations against desired state definitions; for MFA compliance, the `iam-user-mfa-enabled` rule checks the `MFADevices` attribute on each IAM user resource. When a user becomes non-compliant, AWS Config can invoke an AWS Systems Manager Automation document (e.g., `AWS-DisableIAMUserAccessKeys`) as a remediation action, which programmatically deactivates the user's access keys via the IAM API. This integration ensures that the entire detection-to-remediation pipeline is fully managed and requires no custom scripts or manual intervention.
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.
- →
Security and Compliance — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CLF-C02 question test?
Security and Compliance — This question tests Security and Compliance — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: AWS Config — AWS Config is the correct service because it provides managed rules (such as the `iam-user-mfa-enabled` managed rule) that continuously evaluate IAM user configurations against compliance policies. When a user disables or has an inactive virtual MFA device, AWS Config can detect the non-compliant resource and automatically trigger a remediation action via AWS Systems Manager Automation, which can disable the user's access keys without any custom scripts.
What should I do if I get this CLF-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: "immediately / without restart". Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This CLF-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 CLF-C02 exam.
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