The correct answer is a Deny policy statement using the condition key `aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent` set to `false`. This works because an explicit Deny overrides any Allow, so even if an IAM user has full administrative permissions, the Deny statement blocks all actions (`'*'`) when MFA is not present, effectively locking out unauthenticated console access. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this concept tests your understanding of IAM policy evaluation logic and the critical difference between explicit Deny and Allow—a common trap is using an Allow with a condition instead of a Deny, which would leave a loophole for other policies to grant access. Remember that for MFA enforcement, you must explicitly Deny when the condition is false, not merely Allow when it is true. Memory tip: think "Deny when false" to lock the door, not "Allow when true" which leaves the window open.
DVA-C02 Security Practice Question
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.
An organization wants to enforce that all IAM users must use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to access the AWS Management Console. The security team needs to deny any console access if MFA is not enabled. Which IAM policy statement should be used?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Deny action '*' if 'aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent' is false.
Option B is correct because it uses a Deny statement with the condition 'aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent' set to 'false', which explicitly blocks any action when MFA is not present. This is the standard approach to enforce MFA for console access, as it overrides any Allow policies by default. The Deny effect ensures that even if other policies grant access, the lack of MFA results in denial.
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.
✗
Deny action '*' unless 'aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent' is true.
Why it's wrong here
This would deny access when MFA is present, opposite of desired.
✓
Deny action '*' if 'aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent' is false.
Why this is correct
This explicitly denies access when MFA is not present.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Deny action '*' if 'aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent' is false using BoolIfExists.
Why it's wrong here
BoolIfExists treats absent key as true, potentially allowing access.
✗
Allow action '*' if 'aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent' is true.
Why it's wrong here
This allows access with MFA but does not deny access without MFA.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse 'Deny' with 'Allow' logic or misuse 'BoolIfExists' thinking it handles missing keys, but for console access the key is always present, so 'Bool' is required to correctly enforce the denial.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The 'aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent' condition key is a boolean that is set to 'true' only when the user authenticated with a valid MFA code during the current session. For AWS Management Console access, this key is always present because the console requires session tokens, making 'Bool' the correct operator. A Deny with 'Bool' ensures that any request without MFA is blocked, leveraging IAM's explicit deny precedence over allows.
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 — This question tests Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Deny action '*' if 'aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent' is false. — Option B is correct because it uses a Deny statement with the condition 'aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent' set to 'false', which explicitly blocks any action when MFA is not present. This is the standard approach to enforce MFA for console access, as it overrides any Allow policies by default. The Deny effect ensures that even if other policies grant access, the lack of MFA results in denial.
What should I do if I get this DVA-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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Question Discussion
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