- A
Enable MFA on the root account only
Why wrong: Root account MFA only protects root — IAM users without MFA would still have full access to their permitted resources.
- B
Apply an SCP that denies all actions unless MFA is authenticated
An MFA enforcement SCP at the org root denies all AWS actions when `aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent` is false — IAM users must authenticate with MFA or they can't perform any actions.
- C
Configure IAM password policies to require MFA
Why wrong: IAM password policies control password complexity — they can't enforce MFA authentication (different from password policies).
- D
Enable AWS Config rule to check MFA status
Why wrong: Config can detect users without MFA and report non-compliance but doesn't enforce MFA — it's a detective control, not a preventive one.
Quick Answer
The correct approach is to apply a Service Control Policy (SCP) that denies all AWS API actions unless the request is authenticated with multi-factor authentication. This works because SCPs operate at the AWS Organizations root or organizational unit level, allowing you to enforce MFA across your entire AWS Organization without requiring individual account administrators to configure MFA for each user. On the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner CLF-C02 exam, this tests your understanding of how SCPs provide centralized governance, distinguishing them from IAM policies that apply per account. A common trap is confusing SCPs with IAM permission boundaries or thinking MFA must be set up manually per user—remember, SCPs block actions at the service level, not manage credentials. Memory tip: think of SCPs as the “bouncer at the door” for your entire organization, checking for MFA before letting anyone in.
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 wants to implement multi-factor authentication for all IAM users across their AWS Organization without requiring individual account administrators to configure MFA for each user. Which approach enables organization-wide MFA enforcement?
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 SCP that denies all actions unless MFA is authenticated
Option B is correct because Service Control Policies (SCPs) can be applied at the root or organizational unit level to enforce a condition that denies all AWS API actions unless the request includes multi-factor authentication (MFA). This ensures that every IAM user across the entire AWS Organization must authenticate with MFA before performing any action, without requiring individual account administrators to configure MFA per user.
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.
- ✗
Enable MFA on the root account only
Why it's wrong here
Root account MFA only protects root — IAM users without MFA would still have full access to their permitted resources.
- ✓
Apply an SCP that denies all actions unless MFA is authenticated
Why this is correct
An MFA enforcement SCP at the org root denies all AWS actions when `aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent` is false — IAM users must authenticate with MFA or they can't perform any actions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Configure IAM password policies to require MFA
Why it's wrong here
IAM password policies control password complexity — they can't enforce MFA authentication (different from password policies).
- ✗
Enable AWS Config rule to check MFA status
Why it's wrong here
Config can detect users without MFA and report non-compliance but doesn't enforce MFA — it's a detective control, not a preventive one.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse detective controls (like AWS Config rules) with preventive controls (like SCPs), or assume that password policies can enforce MFA at the API level when they only manage device assignment.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The SCP uses the `aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent` condition key set to `true` in a `Deny` effect statement. When a user makes an API call, AWS evaluates the condition; if the request does not include a valid MFA-authenticated session (e.g., from the AWS CLI with `--serial-number` and `--token-code` parameters), the SCP denies the action. This works even for long-lived access keys, forcing users to obtain temporary credentials via `GetSessionToken` with MFA.
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: Apply an SCP that denies all actions unless MFA is authenticated — Option B is correct because Service Control Policies (SCPs) can be applied at the root or organizational unit level to enforce a condition that denies all AWS API actions unless the request includes multi-factor authentication (MFA). This ensures that every IAM user across the entire AWS Organization must authenticate with MFA before performing any action, without requiring individual account administrators to configure MFA per user.
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
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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