- A
Create an AWS IAM policy with a Deny effect for ec2:RunInstances where the instance type starts with 'g' or 'p' and attach it to a specific IAM role in each account.
Why wrong: This approach is not centralized and requires manual IAM policy configuration in every account. It can also be bypassed if users assume roles that do not have the policy attached. SCPs provide a single, enforceable boundary across all accounts.
- B
Use an AWS Config managed rule to detect GPU instance launches and trigger an auto-remediation action that terminates the instances.
Why wrong: AWS Config is a detective control and can only react after the instance is already launched. Auto-remediation can terminate it, but this may incur costs for the brief period the instance runs and wastes resources. The requirement is for a proactive, preventive policy.
- C
Apply an AWS Organizations Service Control Policy (SCP) that denies ec2:RunInstances when the requested instance type belongs to the g or p families.
SCPs are permission guardrails that can be applied at the organization, organizational unit, or account level. They proactively deny API actions before the resource is created, making them ideal for enforcing restrictions like prohibited instance types across multiple accounts. This is the correct centralized and preventive solution.
- D
Use AWS Trusted Advisor cost optimization checks to identify GPU instances and then manually disable them in each account.
Why wrong: Trusted Advisor provides recommendations and cost-saving suggestions, but it cannot enforce policies or block resource creation. It is an advisory tool, not a preventive control mechanism.
CLF-C02 Service Control Policy (SCP) Practice Question
This CLF-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security and compliance. 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. A key principle to apply: service Control Policy (SCP). 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 manages multiple AWS accounts under AWS Organizations. The security team wants to enforce a policy that prohibits launching Amazon EC2 instances of instance families g (GPU) and p (GPU) across all accounts to control costs. The team needs a centralized method to block these instance types at the organization level, and the policy must be applied proactively before any instance is launched. Which AWS solution should the team use?
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
Apply an AWS Organizations Service Control Policy (SCP) that denies ec2:RunInstances when the requested instance type belongs to the g or p families.
Option C is correct because AWS Organizations Service Control Policies (SCPs) are the only centralized mechanism that can proactively deny API actions across all accounts in the organization before the action occurs. By creating an SCP with a Deny effect on ec2:RunInstances where the instance type matches 'g*' or 'p*', the security team enforces the restriction at the root, OU, or account level, preventing any user or role from launching GPU instances regardless of their IAM permissions.
Key principle: Service Control Policy (SCP)
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create an AWS IAM policy with a Deny effect for ec2:RunInstances where the instance type starts with 'g' or 'p' and attach it to a specific IAM role in each account.
Why it's wrong here
This approach is not centralized and requires manual IAM policy configuration in every account. It can also be bypassed if users assume roles that do not have the policy attached. SCPs provide a single, enforceable boundary across all accounts.
When this WOULD be correct
This would be correct if the question asked for a solution to restrict GPU instance launches for a specific set of users (e.g., developers) who assume a particular IAM role, while allowing other users to launch them. The policy would be attached to that role to enforce the restriction only for those users.
- ✗
Use an AWS Config managed rule to detect GPU instance launches and trigger an auto-remediation action that terminates the instances.
Why it's wrong here
AWS Config is a detective control and can only react after the instance is already launched. Auto-remediation can terminate it, but this may incur costs for the brief period the instance runs and wastes resources. The requirement is for a proactive, preventive policy.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the requirement were to detect and automatically terminate non-compliant GPU instances after they are launched, with a need for logging and auditing of the remediation actions.
- ✓
Apply an AWS Organizations Service Control Policy (SCP) that denies ec2:RunInstances when the requested instance type belongs to the g or p families.
Why this is correct
SCPs are permission guardrails that can be applied at the organization, organizational unit, or account level. They proactively deny API actions before the resource is created, making them ideal for enforcing restrictions like prohibited instance types across multiple accounts. This is the correct centralized and preventive solution.
Related concept
Service Control Policy (SCP)
- ✗
Use AWS Trusted Advisor cost optimization checks to identify GPU instances and then manually disable them in each account.
Why it's wrong here
Trusted Advisor provides recommendations and cost-saving suggestions, but it cannot enforce policies or block resource creation. It is an advisory tool, not a preventive control mechanism.
When this WOULD be correct
This option would be correct if the question asked for a cost optimization tool to identify underutilized GPU instances across accounts for manual review or termination, without requiring proactive blocking or centralized enforcement.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The CLF-C02 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Apply an AWS Organizations Service Control Policy (SCP) that denies ec2:RunInstances when the requested instance type belongs to the g or p families.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
SCPs are permission guardrails that can be applied at the organization, organizational unit, or account level. They proactively deny API actions before the resource is created, making them ideal for enforcing restrictions like prohibited instance types across multiple accounts. This is the correct centralized and preventive solution.
✗Create an AWS IAM policy with a Deny effect for ec2:RunInstances where the instance type starts with 'g' or 'p' and attach it to a specific IAM role in each account.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
This option is not centralized; it requires attaching the policy to a role in each account, which is not organization-wide enforcement. Also, IAM policies attached to roles do not proactively block actions for all users—they only apply when assuming that role.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This would be correct if the question asked for a solution to restrict GPU instance launches for a specific set of users (e.g., developers) who assume a particular IAM role, while allowing other users to launch them. The policy would be attached to that role to enforce the restriction only for those users.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think IAM policies are the primary way to deny actions, and they might overlook the need for centralized, organization-wide enforcement that SCPs provide. The Deny effect on ec2:RunInstances seems straightforward, but they miss the scope limitation.
✗Use an AWS Config managed rule to detect GPU instance launches and trigger an auto-remediation action that terminates the instances.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
AWS Config auto-remediation is reactive, not proactive; it terminates instances after launch, which may incur costs and does not prevent the launch as required by the question.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the requirement were to detect and automatically terminate non-compliant GPU instances after they are launched, with a need for logging and auditing of the remediation actions.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think auto-remediation provides centralized enforcement, but they overlook the 'proactive' requirement and the fact that SCPs prevent launches before they happen.
✗Use AWS Trusted Advisor cost optimization checks to identify GPU instances and then manually disable them in each account.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Trusted Advisor is a reactive advisory tool that identifies existing resources, not a proactive enforcement mechanism. It cannot block instance launches before they occur, and it requires manual intervention to disable instances, failing the requirement for a centralized, proactive policy.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
This option would be correct if the question asked for a cost optimization tool to identify underutilized GPU instances across accounts for manual review or termination, without requiring proactive blocking or centralized enforcement.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse Trusted Advisor's cost optimization checks with a policy enforcement tool, assuming its recommendations can be used to control costs proactively, rather than understanding it only provides post-launch visibility.
Analysis generated from the official CLF-C02blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is confusing reactive services like AWS Config with preventive controls; candidates often pick Option B because it 'detects and fixes' the issue, but the question explicitly requires a proactive block before launch, which only SCPs or IAM permission boundaries can achieve at the organization level.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SCPs are evaluated before any IAM or resource-based policies, and they use a deny-by-default model where an explicit Deny in an SCP overrides any Allow in IAM policies. The condition key ec2:InstanceType supports wildcard matching, so 'g*' and 'p*' cover all GPU instance families (e.g., g4dn, p3) without blocking non-GPU types like t3 or m5. In a real-world scenario, this SCP can be applied to a specific OU containing cost-sensitive accounts, while allowing GPU instances in a separate OU for ML workloads.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Service Control Policy (SCP)
- AWS Organizations
- Proactive Control
- ec2:RunInstances
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
Service Control Policy (SCP)
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A startup's cloud architect reviews their monthly bill and notices costs are higher than expected for a long-running batch job. Switching from on-demand instances to Reserved Instances — or using Spot/Preemptible VMs — can reduce compute costs by up to 72 %. Questions like this test whether you understand the tradeoffs between commitment, flexibility, and cost across cloud pricing models.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review service Control Policy (SCP), then practise related CLF-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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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 — Service Control Policy (SCP).
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Apply an AWS Organizations Service Control Policy (SCP) that denies ec2:RunInstances when the requested instance type belongs to the g or p families. — Option C is correct because AWS Organizations Service Control Policies (SCPs) are the only centralized mechanism that can proactively deny API actions across all accounts in the organization before the action occurs. By creating an SCP with a Deny effect on ec2:RunInstances where the instance type matches 'g*' or 'p*', the security team enforces the restriction at the root, OU, or account level, preventing any user or role from launching GPU instances regardless of their IAM permissions.
What should I do if I get this CLF-C02 question wrong?
Review service Control Policy (SCP), then practise related CLF-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Service Control Policy (SCP)
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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