- A
Enable AWS CloudTrail to monitor and alert on production changes.
Why wrong: CloudTrail is logging, not enforcement.
- B
Apply an SCP to the production OU that denies all actions to non-approved IAM roles.
SCPs can effectively block all actions from developers in production.
- C
Use resource tags to identify development and production resources and enforce policies via SCPs.
Why wrong: SCPs cannot condition on resource tags; they condition on request parameters.
- D
Create IAM roles in production with no permissions, and allow only a central CI/CD role to assume a privileged role.
This ensures developers cannot directly access production.
- E
Use AWS Config rules to detect unauthorized deployments in production.
Why wrong: Config rules are detective, not preventive.
Quick Answer
The answer is to use Service Control Policies (SCPs) to deny all actions on production accounts and create IAM roles in production with no permissions, allowing only a central CI/CD role to assume a privileged role. SCPs are the correct enforcement mechanism because they act as a centralized permission guardrail at the organizational level, effectively preventing developers from deploying to production by blocking any action across the entire production account, regardless of the IAM role they assume. This question tests your understanding of AWS Organizations and the layered security model for multi-account strategies on the SAP-C02 exam, where the common trap is confusing auditing services like CloudTrail or Config with actual enforcement tools. Remember the memory tip: SCPs are the "bouncer at the door" that denies entry entirely, while IAM roles are the "locked room" that only the CI/CD pipeline has the key to.
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 designing a multi-account strategy for development, testing, and production environments. They want to ensure that developers can deploy resources in development and testing accounts but not in production. Which TWO methods should the company use to achieve this? (Choose TWO.)
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
Apply an SCP to the production OU that denies all actions to non-approved IAM roles.
Option B is correct because SCPs can deny actions on production accounts. Option D is correct because IAM roles with limited permissions can restrict developer access. Option A is incorrect because AWS Config does not prevent actions. Option C is incorrect because CloudTrail is auditing, not enforcement. Option E is incorrect because tagging does not prevent deployment.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Enable AWS CloudTrail to monitor and alert on production changes.
Why it's wrong here
CloudTrail is logging, not enforcement.
- ✓
Apply an SCP to the production OU that denies all actions to non-approved IAM roles.
Why this is correct
SCPs can effectively block all actions from developers in production.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✗
Use resource tags to identify development and production resources and enforce policies via SCPs.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs cannot condition on resource tags; they condition on request parameters.
- ✓
Create IAM roles in production with no permissions, and allow only a central CI/CD role to assume a privileged role.
Why this is correct
This ensures developers cannot directly access production.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
- ✗
Use AWS Config rules to detect unauthorized deployments in production.
Why it's wrong here
Config rules are detective, not preventive.
Common exam traps
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.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
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.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SAP-C02 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
- →
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 — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Apply an SCP to the production OU that denies all actions to non-approved IAM roles. — Option B is correct because SCPs can deny actions on production accounts. Option D is correct because IAM roles with limited permissions can restrict developer access. Option A is incorrect because AWS Config does not prevent actions. Option C is incorrect because CloudTrail is auditing, not enforcement. Option E is incorrect because tagging does not prevent deployment.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SAP-C02 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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.