The answer is to create an IAM role in each target account with a trust policy allowing the management account to assume it. This is correct because AWS CloudFormation StackSets operate by assuming an IAM role in each target account to perform cross-account deployments, a mechanism known as resource-based trust delegation. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how StackSets handle cross-account permissions without requiring static credentials or service roles; a common trap is confusing the StackSet execution role with a CloudFormation service role, which only applies within a single account. Remember that StackSets require a two-role model: an administrator role in the management account and an execution role in each target account, with the trust policy explicitly granting sts:AssumeRole. A useful memory tip is “trust to execute”—the target account trusts the management account to execute deployments via the assumed role.
SAP-C02 Practice Question: Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity
This SAP-C02 practice question tests your understanding of design solutions for organizational complexity. 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 has multiple AWS accounts and wants to use AWS CloudFormation StackSets to deploy a common set of resources across all accounts. The StackSet should be managed from the management account. What permissions are required?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create an IAM role in each target account with a trust policy allowing the management account to assume it.
Option C is correct because it requires an IAM role in the target accounts that StackSets can assume. Option A is wrong because StackSets use roles, not user credentials. Option B is wrong because CloudFormation service role is for stack operations, not cross-account. Option D is wrong because SCPs cannot grant permissions.
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.
✗
Create IAM users in target accounts with AdministratorAccess.
Why it's wrong here
StackSets do not use IAM users.
✓
Create an IAM role in each target account with a trust policy allowing the management account to assume it.
Why this is correct
StackSets assume this role to deploy resources.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use a CloudFormation service role in the management account.
Why it's wrong here
Service role is for stack operations in one account.
✗
Apply an SCP to allow CloudFormation actions across accounts.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs only restrict, they don't grant permissions.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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.
Identify which SAP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — This question tests Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create an IAM role in each target account with a trust policy allowing the management account to assume it. — Option C is correct because it requires an IAM role in the target accounts that StackSets can assume. Option A is wrong because StackSets use roles, not user credentials. Option B is wrong because CloudFormation service role is for stack operations, not cross-account. Option D is wrong because SCPs cannot grant permissions.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which SAP-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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