Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
In AWS Organizations, a Service Control Policy (SCP) denies kms:Decrypt on a production CMK for all principals in the Finance OU. A developer in the Finance OU created/updated an IAM policy that allows secrets access, but the application still fails with AccessDenied due to the SCP. You must enable only the Finance OU to decrypt that specific CMK while keeping the SCP restrictions for other OUs. What is the correct remediation?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
Update the developer’s IAM policy to allow kms:Decrypt on the CMK alias ARN so the request bypasses the SCP.
An SCP Deny at the Organizations level overrides IAM allows. IAM changes cannot neutralize an SCP explicit Deny.
B
Best answer
Modify the SCP so it no longer denies kms:Decrypt for that specific CMK when applied to the Finance OU, while preserving the deny behavior for other OUs.
Because the SCP is what creates the Deny, the correct fix is to adjust the SCP scope/conditions so that kms:Decrypt for the specific CMK is not denied for the Finance OU. Other OUs remain under the same restrictive SCP behavior.
C
Distractor review
Add a KMS key policy statement that allows the developer role to decrypt the CMK.
KMS key policies can grant authorization to principals, but they cannot override an SCP explicit Deny. Organizations evaluation blocks the request before the KMS key policy authorization is applied.
D
Distractor review
Attach a permissions boundary that grants kms:Decrypt so the SCP becomes irrelevant.
Permission boundaries do not override SCP Deny effects. The SCP explicit deny still blocks the action regardless of permission boundaries.
Common exam trap
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.
Technical deep dive
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.
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Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
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Question 2
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Question 3
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Question 4
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Question 5
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAA-C03 question test?
Authentication checks who the user is.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Modify the SCP so it no longer denies kms:Decrypt for that specific CMK when applied to the Finance OU, while preserving the deny behavior for other OUs. — SCPs are enforced by AWS Organizations and can explicitly deny actions for principals in the OU where they apply. When an SCP denies kms:Decrypt, neither IAM permissions nor KMS key policy grants can override the SCP Deny, so the call fails with AccessDenied. The correct remediation is to change the SCP (for example, by scoping/conditioning it) so that kms:Decrypt for that specific CMK is not denied for the Finance OU, while keeping the deny restrictions for the other OUs. Option A fails because IAM allows cannot override an SCP Deny. Option C fails because KMS key policy authorization does not occur if Organizations already blocks the request. Option D fails because permission boundaries constrain permissions but do not neutralize SCP Deny behavior.
What should I do if I get this SAA-C03 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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