SAP-C02 Practice Question: Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
{
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Deny",
"Action": "ec2:RunInstances",
"Resource": "*",
"Condition": {
"StringNotEquals": {
"ec2:InstanceType": ["t2.micro", "t2.small"]
}
}
}
]
}A company applied the above SCP to an OU. A developer in an account under that OU tries to launch a t2.medium EC2 instance. What will happen?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is that candidates mistakenly think SCPs only apply to the root user or that an explicit Allow in an IAM policy can override an SCP Deny, but in reality SCPs set a maximum permission boundary that cannot be exceeded by any IAM policy within the account.
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
✓
The instance launch is denied because the SCP denies all instance types except t2.micro and t2.small.
The SCP explicitly denies all EC2 instance types except t2.micro and t2.small. Since t2.medium is not in the allowed list, the deny effect applies, and the instance launch is blocked. SCPs act as a guardrail that overrides any Allow in IAM policies within the affected accounts.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The instance launches only if the developer's IAM policy explicitly allows t2.medium.
Why it's wrong here
Even if IAM allows, SCP denies.
- ✗
The instance launch is allowed because there is no explicit Allow statement in the SCP.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs are deny by default; the Deny statement applies.
- ✗
The instance launches successfully because the SCP does not affect IAM users.
Why it's wrong here
SCP applies to all principals in the account.
- ✓
The instance launch is denied because the SCP denies all instance types except t2.micro and t2.small.
Why this is correct
Correct interpretation of the Deny with condition.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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