The correct answer is that the trust policy only allows the root user, not individual users, which is why a user in account 111111111111 cannot assume the role. This is because an IAM role trust policy explicitly defines which principals are allowed to assume the role, and when it specifies only the root user ARN (arn:aws:iam::111111111111:root), it grants permission exclusively to the root user entity, not to any IAM users or roles within that account. For an individual user to assume the role, the trust policy must either list that user’s specific ARN or the user must have an IAM policy in their own account that delegates permission to call sts:AssumeRole, effectively overriding the root-only restriction. On the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional SAP-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the precise principal matching in trust policies—a common trap is assuming that allowing the root user implicitly allows all users in the account. Remember the memory tip: root is a single entity, not a wildcard for the account.
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.
Refer to the exhibit. A company has a trust policy on an IAM role in account 222222222222. The trust policy allows the root user of account 111111111111 to assume the role. However, a user in account 111111111111 is unable to assume the role. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The trust policy only allows the root user, not individual users
Option C is correct because the trust policy allows the root user but not individual users. To allow a user to assume the role, the trust policy must specify the user's ARN, or the user must have explicit permission in their account to assume the role (via an IAM policy). Option A is wrong because the policy is valid. Option B is wrong because it is exactly that. Option D is wrong because SCPs in the role's account could deny, but the trust policy itself is the issue.
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.
✗
A service control policy in account 222222222222 is denying the sts:AssumeRole action
Why it's wrong here
SCPs could deny but the trust policy is the more direct issue.
✗
The role is not in the same region as the user
Why it's wrong here
IAM roles are global.
✓
The trust policy only allows the root user, not individual users
Why this is correct
The principal is the root user ARN; individual users need a separate ARN or permissions.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
✗
The trust policy is malformed
Why it's wrong here
The policy is syntactically correct.
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 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 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 — 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: The trust policy only allows the root user, not individual users — Option C is correct because the trust policy allows the root user but not individual users. To allow a user to assume the role, the trust policy must specify the user's ARN, or the user must have explicit permission in their account to assume the role (via an IAM policy). Option A is wrong because the policy is valid. Option B is wrong because it is exactly that. Option D is wrong because SCPs in the role's account could deny, but the trust policy itself is the issue.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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 →
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.
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.