- A
Use AWS Config rules to mark non-compliant instances and use AWS Lambda to terminate them.
Why wrong: AWS Config rules and Lambda functions provide reactive enforcement, not preventive control. They cannot prevent non-compliant instances from being launched.
- B
Use resource tags to identify compliant instances and enforce via IAM conditions.
Correct. Resource tags combined with IAM condition keys in SCPs allow OU-wide denial with exceptions for tagged instances.
- C
Use IAM policies to deny non-compliant instance types for the Production OU, and attach a different IAM policy to exception accounts.
Why wrong: IAM policies cannot be attached to OUs; they apply only to users, groups, or roles. SCPs are the correct mechanism for OU-level control.
- D
Use an SCP to deny non-compliant instance types at the OU level, and use resource-based policies on exception accounts to allow them.
Why wrong: Incorrect because EC2 instances do not support resource-based policies. Exceptions must be implemented via SCP conditions, not resource-based policies.
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 uses AWS Organizations with multiple OUs. The security team wants to prevent all accounts in the 'Production' OU from using non-compliant EC2 instance types, but allow exceptions for specific accounts. Which combination of controls should be used?
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
Use resource tags to identify compliant instances and enforce via IAM conditions.
Option B is correct because using resource tags combined with IAM conditions in Service Control Policies (SCPs) allows enforcement at the OU level while enabling exceptions. A Deny SCP can be attached to the Production OU that denies ec2:RunInstances for non-compliant instance types unless the resource has a specific tag (e.g., 'Compliant: true'). Exception accounts can then tag their instances with the required tag to bypass the denial. This approach effectively uses IAM condition keys within an SCP, not IAM policies attached to accounts, and provides a scalable mechanism for exceptions.
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.
- ✗
Use AWS Config rules to mark non-compliant instances and use AWS Lambda to terminate them.
Why it's wrong here
AWS Config rules and Lambda functions provide reactive enforcement, not preventive control. They cannot prevent non-compliant instances from being launched.
- ✓
Use resource tags to identify compliant instances and enforce via IAM conditions.
Why this is correct
Correct. Resource tags combined with IAM condition keys in SCPs allow OU-wide denial with exceptions for tagged instances.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use IAM policies to deny non-compliant instance types for the Production OU, and attach a different IAM policy to exception accounts.
Why it's wrong here
IAM policies cannot be attached to OUs; they apply only to users, groups, or roles. SCPs are the correct mechanism for OU-level control.
- ✗
Use an SCP to deny non-compliant instance types at the OU level, and use resource-based policies on exception accounts to allow them.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because EC2 instances do not support resource-based policies. Exceptions must be implemented via SCP conditions, not resource-based policies.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Candidates may mistakenly think that SCPs can be overridden by resource-based policies, but EC2 instances do not support resource-based policies. The correct exception mechanism is to use SCPs with conditions that allow exceptions via tags or account IDs.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SCPs operate as a permission guardrail by defining the maximum allowed permissions for all IAM principals in an account, but they do not grant permissions themselves. Resource-based policies (e.g., EC2 instance trust policies or VPC endpoint policies) are evaluated separately from IAM policies and SCPs; an SCP denial does not affect resource-based policies, allowing exception accounts to use resource-based policies to permit actions that the SCP denies. This distinction is critical in multi-account environments where centralized security teams need to enforce baseline restrictions while allowing specific accounts to opt out via resource-level controls.
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.
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
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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Design Solutions for Organizational Complexity — study guide chapter
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use resource tags to identify compliant instances and enforce via IAM conditions. — Option B is correct because using resource tags combined with IAM conditions in Service Control Policies (SCPs) allows enforcement at the OU level while enabling exceptions. A Deny SCP can be attached to the Production OU that denies ec2:RunInstances for non-compliant instance types unless the resource has a specific tag (e.g., 'Compliant: true'). Exception accounts can then tag their instances with the required tag to bypass the denial. This approach effectively uses IAM condition keys within an SCP, not IAM policies attached to accounts, and provides a scalable mechanism for exceptions.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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