This DVA-C02 practice question tests your understanding of security. 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
Error: User: arn:aws:iam::123456789012:user/Developer is not authorized to perform: ec2:RunInstances on resource: arn:aws:ec2:us-east-1:123456789012:instance/* with an explicit deny in a service control policy
A developer receives the above error when trying to launch an EC2 instance. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Refer to the exhibit.
Error: User: arn:aws:iam::123456789012:user/Developer is not authorized to perform: ec2:RunInstances on resource: arn:aws:ec2:us-east-1:123456789012:instance/* with an explicit deny in a service control policy
A
The account has reached its EC2 instance limit
Why wrong: A limit error would have a different message.
B
The developer is trying to launch the instance in a restricted VPC
Why wrong: The error does not mention VPC restrictions.
C
An SCP at the organizational level denies ec2:RunInstances
The error explicitly states an explicit deny in a service control policy.
D
The developer's IAM policy does not allow ec2:RunInstances
Why wrong: The error mentions an explicit deny in an SCP, not IAM.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
An SCP at the organizational level denies ec2:RunInstances
The error message explicitly mentions a service control policy (SCP) that denies the action. SCPs are applied at the organizational level. Option A is incorrect because IAM policy would not mention SCP. Option C is incorrect because the error is about authorization, not service limits. Option D is incorrect because the error does not mention VPC.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The account has reached its EC2 instance limit
Why it's wrong here
A limit error would have a different message.
✗
The developer is trying to launch the instance in a restricted VPC
Why it's wrong here
The error does not mention VPC restrictions.
✓
An SCP at the organizational level denies ec2:RunInstances
Why this is correct
The error explicitly states an explicit deny in a service control policy.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
✗
The developer's IAM policy does not allow ec2:RunInstances
Why it's wrong here
The error mentions an explicit deny in an SCP, not IAM.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Authentication checks who the user is.
Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
→Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
→Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
→Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related DVA-C02 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Security — This question tests Security — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: An SCP at the organizational level denies ec2:RunInstances — The error message explicitly mentions a service control policy (SCP) that denies the action. SCPs are applied at the organizational level. Option A is incorrect because IAM policy would not mention SCP. Option C is incorrect because the error is about authorization, not service limits. Option D is incorrect because the error does not mention VPC.
What should I do if I get this DVA-C02 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related DVA-C02 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
This DVA-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 DVA-C02 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.