- A
Use AWS Config rules to automatically recreate any VPC that is deleted.
Why wrong: Incorrect. AWS Config rules can detect and remediate noncompliant resources, but they are reactive and cannot prevent deletion. Additionally, automatically recreating deleted VPCs could lead to resource conflicts and is not a secure access control mechanism.
- B
Use a resource-based policy on each centrally created VPC to deny ec2:DeleteVpc to the developers' roles.
Why wrong: Incorrect. VPCs do not support resource-based policies. The AWS documentation states that you cannot attach a resource-based policy to a VPC. Therefore, this option is not feasible.
- C
Create an SCP for the developers' OU that denies ec2:DeleteVpc for all VPCs.
Why wrong: Incorrect. An SCP applied to the developers' OU would deny ec2:DeleteVpc for all VPCs in all accounts within that OU, including VPCs created by developers themselves, which is too restrictive and not the intended solution.
- D
Create an IAM policy for developers that denies ec2:DeleteVpc unless the VPC has a specific tag.
Correct. An IAM policy with a condition key (e.g., based on a tag) can allow or deny the ec2:DeleteVpc action selectively. Developers can delete only VPCs that have a specific tag, while centrally created VPCs without that tag are protected from deletion.
SAP-C02 IAM Policy with Condition Keys Practice Question
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. A key principle to apply: iAM Policy with Condition Keys. 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 uses AWS Organizations with multiple OUs. The DevOps team wants to allow developers in a specific OU to create and manage their own VPCs but restrict them from deleting VPCs created by the central networking team. How can this be achieved?
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
Create an IAM policy for developers that denies ec2:DeleteVpc unless the VPC has a specific tag.
Option D is correct because VPCs do not support resource-based policies (making Option B invalid). An IAM policy with a condition based on a tag can effectively restrict deletion. For example, developers can be allowed to delete VPCs only if the VPC has a specific tag (e.g., 'AllowDeletion: true'), which they can add to their own VPCs. Centrally created VPCs would lack this tag, so deletion is denied. This provides granular control without affecting other permissions.
Key principle: IAM Policy with Condition Keys
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Use AWS Config rules to automatically recreate any VPC that is deleted.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. AWS Config rules can detect and remediate noncompliant resources, but they are reactive and cannot prevent deletion. Additionally, automatically recreating deleted VPCs could lead to resource conflicts and is not a secure access control mechanism.
- ✗
Use a resource-based policy on each centrally created VPC to deny ec2:DeleteVpc to the developers' roles.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. VPCs do not support resource-based policies. The AWS documentation states that you cannot attach a resource-based policy to a VPC. Therefore, this option is not feasible.
- ✗
Create an SCP for the developers' OU that denies ec2:DeleteVpc for all VPCs.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. An SCP applied to the developers' OU would deny ec2:DeleteVpc for all VPCs in all accounts within that OU, including VPCs created by developers themselves, which is too restrictive and not the intended solution.
- ✓
Create an IAM policy for developers that denies ec2:DeleteVpc unless the VPC has a specific tag.
Why this is correct
Correct. An IAM policy with a condition key (e.g., based on a tag) can allow or deny the ec2:DeleteVpc action selectively. Developers can delete only VPCs that have a specific tag, while centrally created VPCs without that tag are protected from deletion.
Related concept
IAM Policy with Condition Keys
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The key trap is that candidates often think resource-based policies (Option B) can be applied to VPCs, but VPCs do not support them. Instead, tag-based conditions in IAM policies or SCPs are the correct mechanisms for selective denial.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Resource-based policies on VPCs are evaluated as part of the IAM policy evaluation logic, where an explicit deny in a resource-based policy overrides any allow from identity-based policies or SCPs. This is because the VPC resource itself is the owner of the policy, and the deny is evaluated at the resource level. In a real-world scenario, the central networking team would attach a resource-based policy to each VPC they create, specifying a condition like 'aws:PrincipalArn' to match the developers' roles and denying ec2:DeleteVpc, while developers can still create and delete their own VPCs (which lack such a policy).
KKey Concepts to Remember
- IAM Policy with Condition Keys
- Resource-Based Policies
- Service Control Policy (SCP)
TExam Day Tips
- 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
IAM Policy with Condition Keys
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 iAM Policy with Condition Keys, then practise related SAP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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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 — IAM Policy with Condition Keys.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create an IAM policy for developers that denies ec2:DeleteVpc unless the VPC has a specific tag. — Option D is correct because VPCs do not support resource-based policies (making Option B invalid). An IAM policy with a condition based on a tag can effectively restrict deletion. For example, developers can be allowed to delete VPCs only if the VPC has a specific tag (e.g., 'AllowDeletion: true'), which they can add to their own VPCs. Centrally created VPCs would lack this tag, so deletion is denied. This provides granular control without affecting other permissions.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review iAM Policy with Condition Keys, then practise related SAP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
IAM Policy with Condition Keys
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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