- A
Create an IAM policy that denies the ec2:RunInstances action for noncompliant instance types and attach it to each IAM user.
Why wrong: IAM policies cannot be applied across all accounts from a central location; they must be attached to each user or role in each account.
- B
Create a service control policy (SCP) that denies the ec2:RunInstances action for noncompliant instance types and attach it to the root organizational unit.
SCPs can be applied to organizational units to restrict actions across accounts.
- C
Set up AWS Config rules to detect noncompliant instances and trigger an AWS Lambda function to terminate them.
Why wrong: AWS Config can detect but cannot prevent the launch; it is reactive.
- D
Use AWS CloudTrail to monitor ec2:RunInstances events and send alerts.
Why wrong: CloudTrail only records events, it does not enforce restrictions.
Quick Answer
The correct approach is to create a service control policy (SCP) that denies the ec2:RunInstances action for noncompliant instance types and attach it to the root organizational unit. SCPs are the only centralized mechanism in AWS Organizations that can restrict instance types across all member accounts, as they set permission boundaries that override any account-level IAM policies. On the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty ANS-C01 exam, this question tests your understanding of governance at the organization level versus account-level controls; a common trap is confusing SCPs with AWS Config, which can detect noncompliant instances but cannot prevent their launch. Remember that SCPs are preventive, not detective—they block actions before they happen, making them ideal for enforcing instance type restrictions across a multi-account environment. Memory tip: think "SCP = Stop, Control, Prevent" to distinguish it from Config (detect) and CloudTrail (audit).
ANS-C01 Network Security, Compliance and Governance Practice Question
This ANS-C01 practice question tests your understanding of network security, compliance and governance. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 is designing a multi-account AWS environment using AWS Organizations. They want to restrict the use of certain instance types across all accounts. Which approach should they use to enforce this policy?
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
Create a service control policy (SCP) that denies the ec2:RunInstances action for noncompliant instance types and attach it to the root organizational unit.
Service control policies (SCPs) in AWS Organizations can be used to restrict the use of specific instance types across member accounts. Option A is correct. IAM policies are account-specific and cannot be applied across all accounts from a central location. AWS Config can detect noncompliant instances but cannot prevent them from being launched. AWS CloudTrail is for auditing, not enforcement.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 an IAM policy that denies the ec2:RunInstances action for noncompliant instance types and attach it to each IAM user.
Why it's wrong here
IAM policies cannot be applied across all accounts from a central location; they must be attached to each user or role in each account.
- ✓
Create a service control policy (SCP) that denies the ec2:RunInstances action for noncompliant instance types and attach it to the root organizational unit.
Why this is correct
SCPs can be applied to organizational units to restrict actions across accounts.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- ✗
Set up AWS Config rules to detect noncompliant instances and trigger an AWS Lambda function to terminate them.
Why it's wrong here
AWS Config can detect but cannot prevent the launch; it is reactive.
- ✗
Use AWS CloudTrail to monitor ec2:RunInstances events and send alerts.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail only records events, it does not enforce restrictions.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
- PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
- Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
- NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
- Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
- Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
- Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
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 the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related ANS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
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Network Security, Compliance and Governance — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this ANS-C01 question test?
Network Security, Compliance and Governance — This question tests Network Security, Compliance and Governance — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a service control policy (SCP) that denies the ec2:RunInstances action for noncompliant instance types and attach it to the root organizational unit. — Service control policies (SCPs) in AWS Organizations can be used to restrict the use of specific instance types across member accounts. Option A is correct. IAM policies are account-specific and cannot be applied across all accounts from a central location. AWS Config can detect noncompliant instances but cannot prevent them from being launched. AWS CloudTrail is for auditing, not enforcement.
What should I do if I get this ANS-C01 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related ANS-C01 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This ANS-C01 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 ANS-C01 exam.
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