The correct approach is to attach an IAM policy to each user that denies all actions unless the user has MFA present. This works by using the `aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent` condition key in a Deny statement, which blocks every API call when MFA is not detected, effectively enforcing MFA for IAM users at the user policy level without altering account-wide settings. On the AWS Certified Developer Associate DVA-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of IAM condition keys and least-privilege denial—a common trap is choosing a solution that requires modifying the account’s root-level password policy or enabling MFA only at the group level, which does not enforce per-user MFA for console access. Remember the key pattern: Deny all actions unless `aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent` is true. A helpful mnemonic is “MFA or Deny” — the policy explicitly says “no MFA, no access,” making it the standard AWS-recommended enforcement method.
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.
A company wants to enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users accessing the AWS Management Console. The company has an existing IAM setup with users and groups. Which approach should the developer recommend to enforce MFA?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Attach an IAM policy to each user that denies all actions unless the user has MFA present.
Option B is correct because it uses an IAM policy with a condition key (`aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent`) to deny all actions when MFA is not present. This is the standard AWS-recommended approach to enforce MFA for IAM users accessing the Management Console, as it applies a deny-all-except-MFA effect at the user level without requiring account-level changes.
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 at the account level using the AWS Account settings.
Why it's wrong here
AWS does not provide an account-level setting to enforce MFA for all users; this must be done via IAM policies.
✓
Attach an IAM policy to each user that denies all actions unless the user has MFA present.
Why this is correct
This uses a condition in the policy to require MFA for any API action, effectively enforcing MFA for all users.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable MFA on the root user and require all users to use the root user credentials with MFA.
Why it's wrong here
Sharing root user credentials is a security risk and not recommended.
✗
Create a new IAM group for MFA users and add users to that group.
Why it's wrong here
Creating a group does not enforce MFA; a policy with a condition is required to deny access without MFA.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume MFA can be enforced at the account level (Option A) or by simply adding users to a group (Option D), but AWS requires an explicit IAM policy with a condition key to deny unauthenticated MFA actions.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The IAM policy uses the `aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent` condition key in a `Deny` effect to block all API actions when the key evaluates to `false`. This condition checks the `Global Condition Context Keys` in the request context, which is set by AWS STS when a session is created. In real-world scenarios, this policy must be combined with a `Allow` statement for MFA self-management (e.g., `iam:ChangePassword`, `iam:CreateVirtualMFADevice`) to avoid locking users out before they configure 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 — 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: Attach an IAM policy to each user that denies all actions unless the user has MFA present. — Option B is correct because it uses an IAM policy with a condition key (`aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent`) to deny all actions when MFA is not present. This is the standard AWS-recommended approach to enforce MFA for IAM users accessing the Management Console, as it applies a deny-all-except-MFA effect at the user level without requiring account-level changes.
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.
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 →
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company wants to enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all IAM users accessing the AWS Management Console. Which THREE actions are required?
easy
✓ A.Instruct users to use their MFA device when logging in
B.Configure a password policy that requires MFA
C.Create a service control policy (SCP) to enforce MFA
✓ D.Enable MFA for each IAM user
✓ E.Create an IAM policy that denies access unless MFA is present
Why A: Option A is correct because instructing users to use their MFA device when logging in is a necessary step to ensure that users know how to properly authenticate with their assigned MFA device (e.g., virtual TOTP token or hardware key fob) during the AWS Management Console login process. Without this instruction, users may not complete the MFA challenge, leaving the policy enforcement ineffective. This action complements the technical enforcement by providing user guidance.
Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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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.
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