- A
Add a statement condition requiring "Bool": {"aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent": "true"} in the role trust policy.
aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent is a built-in IAM condition context key set when the caller authenticated with MFA. Requiring it to be true causes trust policy evaluation to fail for non-MFA sessions.
- B
Add a condition requiring "StringEquals": {"aws:PrincipalOrgID": "o-example"} without any MFA condition.
Why wrong: Filtering by aws:PrincipalOrgID controls which identities (via organization) can assume the role, but it does not validate whether MFA was used in the authentication flow. Non-MFA sessions from the same org could still satisfy the trust.
- C
Add a statement that denies sts:AssumeRole when the requested role session name contains the text "dev".
Why wrong: Session name values are not a reliable indicator of authentication strength and can be modified by the caller. This does not verify that MFA was used.
- D
Require HTTPS by setting a condition on "aws:SecureTransport": "true" in the trust policy.
Why wrong: aws:SecureTransport is used to enforce TLS usage for specific AWS API requests, but it does not enforce MFA or check authentication context. It addresses transport security, not MFA presence during AssumeRole.
SAA-C03 Design Secure Architectures Practice Question
This SAA-C03 practice question tests your understanding of design secure architectures. 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.
Account A hosts an IAM role that Account B developers must assume for a limited task. You want to require MFA for anyone assuming the role. Which trust policy condition most directly enforces that requirement for sts:AssumeRole?
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
Add a statement condition requiring "Bool": {"aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent": "true"} in the role trust policy.
Option A is correct because the `aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent` condition key in the role trust policy directly checks whether the caller authenticated with a valid MFA device before calling `sts:AssumeRole`. When set to "true" with a Bool condition, it enforces that the session must have been established after MFA verification, which is the most direct and standard way to require MFA for role assumption.
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.
- ✓
Add a statement condition requiring "Bool": {"aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent": "true"} in the role trust policy.
Why this is correct
aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent is a built-in IAM condition context key set when the caller authenticated with MFA. Requiring it to be true causes trust policy evaluation to fail for non-MFA sessions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Add a condition requiring "StringEquals": {"aws:PrincipalOrgID": "o-example"} without any MFA condition.
Why it's wrong here
Filtering by aws:PrincipalOrgID controls which identities (via organization) can assume the role, but it does not validate whether MFA was used in the authentication flow. Non-MFA sessions from the same org could still satisfy the trust.
- ✗
Add a statement that denies sts:AssumeRole when the requested role session name contains the text "dev".
Why it's wrong here
Session name values are not a reliable indicator of authentication strength and can be modified by the caller. This does not verify that MFA was used.
- ✗
Require HTTPS by setting a condition on "aws:SecureTransport": "true" in the trust policy.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse transport-layer security (HTTPS) with authentication-layer MFA, thinking that requiring encrypted communication also enforces multi-factor authentication, but `aws:SecureTransport` only ensures the channel is encrypted, not that the caller proved possession of a second factor.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent` condition key evaluates to "true" only if the caller's session was created after a successful MFA challenge, such as through the AWS Management Console, AWS CLI with `--mfa-serial`, or an IAM user with an MFA device. Under the hood, the STS service checks the session token's metadata; if MFA was not used, the key is either absent or "false", and the trust policy's Deny or Allow effect can be used to block the AssumeRole call. A real-world scenario is requiring developers to use MFA before accessing production roles in a different account, preventing credential theft from granting elevated access.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAA-C03 question test?
Design Secure Architectures — This question tests Design Secure Architectures — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Add a statement condition requiring "Bool": {"aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent": "true"} in the role trust policy. — Option A is correct because the `aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent` condition key in the role trust policy directly checks whether the caller authenticated with a valid MFA device before calling `sts:AssumeRole`. When set to "true" with a Bool condition, it enforces that the session must have been established after MFA verification, which is the most direct and standard way to require MFA for role assumption.
What should I do if I get this SAA-C03 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
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