- A
Create IAM user access keys for the root account to enable programmatic access
Why wrong: Creating IAM user access keys for the root account is not a best practice because root access keys cannot be managed or rotated like IAM user keys and pose an unacceptable security risk.
- B
Enable MFA on the root account and delete any existing root access keys
Enabling MFA on the root account and deleting any existing root access keys is the correct action to protect the root user with the highest level of security.
- C
Share the root password with the security team for emergency access
Why wrong: Sharing the root password with the security team for emergency access is a security anti-pattern; it increases the attack surface and violates the principle of least privilege.
- D
Use the root account for all day-to-day AWS operations to avoid delegation complexity
Why wrong: Using the root account for all day-to-day AWS operations is not recommended; instead, use IAM roles and users with appropriate permissions.
CLF-C02 Security and Compliance 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. 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 wants to ensure that their AWS account root user is protected with the highest level of security. Which two actions should they take? (Choose the answer that covers both.)
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
Enable MFA on the root account and delete any existing root access keys
To protect the AWS account root user with the highest level of security, you should enable MFA on the root account and delete any existing root access keys (Option B). This prevents unauthorized access using stolen credentials and eliminates the risk of long-term programmatic access. Sharing the root password (Option C) is a security anti-pattern because it increases the attack surface and violates the principle of least privilege. Instead, use IAM roles and users for day-to-day operations. Therefore, only Option B is a recommended best practice. Note that the question asks for two actions, but based on the options provided, only Option B is correct; Option C is incorrect.
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.
- ✗
Create IAM user access keys for the root account to enable programmatic access
Why it's wrong here
Creating IAM user access keys for the root account is not a best practice because root access keys cannot be managed or rotated like IAM user keys and pose an unacceptable security risk.
- ✓
Enable MFA on the root account and delete any existing root access keys
Why this is correct
Enabling MFA on the root account and deleting any existing root access keys is the correct action to protect the root user with the highest level of security.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Share the root password with the security team for emergency access
Why it's wrong here
Sharing the root password with the security team for emergency access is a security anti-pattern; it increases the attack surface and violates the principle of least privilege.
- ✗
Use the root account for all day-to-day AWS operations to avoid delegation complexity
Why it's wrong here
Using the root account for all day-to-day AWS operations is not recommended; instead, use IAM roles and users with appropriate permissions.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may think both Option B and Option C are correct because they are both marked with [CORRECT] in the question, but sharing the root password is not a security best practice. Only enabling MFA on the root account and deleting root access keys (Option B) is the correct action. Option C is a common mistake.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
MFA on the root user can be a hardware TOTP token (e.g., YubiKey) or a virtual MFA device (e.g., Google Authenticator), which generates a time-based one-time password (TOTP) per RFC 6238. Deleting root access keys is critical because these keys are long-lived, cannot be restricted by IAM policies, and are not subject to password rotation policies; AWS CloudTrail will log API calls made with these keys, but they remain a high-value target for attackers.
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.
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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: Enable MFA on the root account and delete any existing root access keys — To protect the AWS account root user with the highest level of security, you should enable MFA on the root account and delete any existing root access keys (Option B). This prevents unauthorized access using stolen credentials and eliminates the risk of long-term programmatic access. Sharing the root password (Option C) is a security anti-pattern because it increases the attack surface and violates the principle of least privilege. Instead, use IAM roles and users for day-to-day operations. Therefore, only Option B is a recommended best practice. Note that the question asks for two actions, but based on the options provided, only Option B is correct; Option C is incorrect.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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