- A
{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:DeleteSecurityGroup","Resource":"*"}]}
Why wrong: Denies deletion, not modification.
- B
{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:ModifySecurityGroup*","Resource":"*"}]}
Why wrong: Denies all security group modifications, including non-default.
- C
{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:ModifySecurityGroupRules","Resource":"arn:aws:ec2:*:*:security-group/*","Condition":{"StringEquals":{"ec2:Vpc":"arn:aws:ec2:*:*:vpc/*"}}}]}
Denies modification of rules on any security group but not creation/deletion.
- D
{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:CreateSecurityGroup","Resource":"*"}]}
Why wrong: Denies creating security groups, not modifying default.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is the SCP that denies the ec2:ModifySecurityGroupRules action on the default security group, as shown in Option A. This policy works by targeting the specific API call used to alter security group rules, while using a condition to scope the denial to the default VPC’s security group resource. The key technical concept here is that default security groups are implicitly associated with a VPC, so the condition `ec2:Vpc` must match the default VPC’s ARN to avoid blocking modifications to custom security groups. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this question tests your ability to craft precise, least-privilege SCPs that prevent security drift in multi-account environments. A common trap is choosing a policy that denies all security group modifications (Option B), which would break legitimate changes to custom groups. Memory tip: think “Modify only the default” — the action is `ec2:ModifySecurityGroupRules`, not the broader `ec2:AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress` or `ec2:RevokeSecurityGroupEgress`, and the condition locks it to the default VPC.
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design solutions for organizational complexity. 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 is using AWS Organizations with hundreds of accounts. They need to ensure that no account can modify the VPC default security group. Which SCP should they apply to the root OU?
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
{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:ModifySecurityGroupRules","Resource":"arn:aws:ec2:*:*:security-group/*","Condition":{"StringEquals":{"ec2:Vpc":"arn:aws:ec2:*:*:vpc/*"}}}]}
Option A is correct because it denies the ec2:ModifySecurityGroupRules action on the default security group. Option B is wrong because it denies all security group modifications. Option C is wrong because it denies creation. Option D is wrong because it denies deletion.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:DeleteSecurityGroup","Resource":"*"}]}
Why it's wrong here
Denies deletion, not modification.
- ✗
{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:ModifySecurityGroup*","Resource":"*"}]}
Why it's wrong here
Denies all security group modifications, including non-default.
- ✓
{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:ModifySecurityGroupRules","Resource":"arn:aws:ec2:*:*:security-group/*","Condition":{"StringEquals":{"ec2:Vpc":"arn:aws:ec2:*:*:vpc/*"}}}]}
Why this is correct
Denies modification of rules on any security group but not creation/deletion.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- ✗
{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:CreateSecurityGroup","Resource":"*"}]}
Why it's wrong here
Denies creating security groups, not modifying default.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
- The first matching ACL entry is used.
- There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
- Check inbound versus outbound direction.
- Read the ACL from top to bottom.
- Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SAP-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
- →
Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SAP-C02 questions
1,746 questions across all exam domains
- →
AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SAP-C02 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SAP-C02 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity practice questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity.
Design for New Solutions practice questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to Design for New Solutions.
Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions practice questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to Continuous Improvement for Existing Solutions.
Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization practice questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to Accelerate Workload Migration and Modernization.
SAA-C03 VPC practice questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 VPC.
SAA-C03 S3 lifecycle policy questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 S3 lifecycle policy questions.
SAA-C03 RDS Multi-AZ questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 RDS Multi-AZ questions.
SAA-C03 IAM policy practice questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 IAM policy.
SAA-C03 Route 53 failover questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 Route 53 failover questions.
SAA-C03 CloudFront practice questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 CloudFront.
SAA-C03 NAT gateway questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 NAT gateway questions.
SAA-C03 VPC endpoint questions
Practise SAP-C02 questions linked to SAA-C03 VPC endpoint questions.
Practice this exam
Start a free SAP-C02 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SAP-C02 question test?
Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — This question tests Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: {"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:ModifySecurityGroupRules","Resource":"arn:aws:ec2:*:*:security-group/*","Condition":{"StringEquals":{"ec2:Vpc":"arn:aws:ec2:*:*:vpc/*"}}}]} — Option A is correct because it denies the ec2:ModifySecurityGroupRules action on the default security group. Option B is wrong because it denies all security group modifications. Option C is wrong because it denies creation. Option D is wrong because it denies deletion.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SAP-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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 →
Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This SAP-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 SAP-C02 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.