- A
{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:DeleteSecurityGroup","Resource":"*"}]}
Why wrong: Denies only ec2:DeleteSecurityGroup, which does not prevent modification of rules or attributes. Fails to meet requirement.
- B
{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:ModifySecurityGroup*","Resource":"*"}]}
Denies all ec2:ModifySecurityGroup* actions (e.g., ModifySecurityGroupRules, ModifySecurityGroupAttributes, AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress, RevokeSecurityGroupIngress) on any security group. Effectively prevents any modification to the default security group. Correct.
- C
{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:ModifySecurityGroupRules","Resource":"arn:aws:ec2:*:*:security-group/*","Condition":{"StringEquals":{"ec2:Vpc":"arn:aws:ec2:*:*:vpc/*"}}}]}
Why wrong: Denies only ec2:ModifySecurityGroupRules, and uses a condition that targets all VPCs (wildcard), not specifically the default security group. Also misses other modify actions. Incorrect.
- D
{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:CreateSecurityGroup","Resource":"*"}]}
Why wrong: Denies only ec2:CreateSecurityGroup, which does not prevent modification of existing security groups. Fails to meet requirement.
SAP-C02 Service Control Policy (SCP) 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: service Control Policy (SCP). 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 using AWS Organizations with hundreds of accounts. They need to ensure that no account can modify the VPC default security group. Which SCP should they apply to the root OU?
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
{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:ModifySecurityGroup*","Resource":"*"}]}
The correct answer is Option B, which denies all ec2:ModifySecurityGroup* actions on any security group. This ensures that no account can modify the default security group, as required. Option C is incorrect because it only denies the ec2:ModifySecurityGroupRules action and uses a condition that applies to all VPCs, not specifically the default security group. Option A only prevents deletion, not modification. Option D prevents creation but not modification.
Key principle: Service Control Policy (SCP)
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:DeleteSecurityGroup","Resource":"*"}]}
Why it's wrong here
Denies only ec2:DeleteSecurityGroup, which does not prevent modification of rules or attributes. Fails to meet requirement.
- ✓
{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:ModifySecurityGroup*","Resource":"*"}]}
Why this is correct
Denies all ec2:ModifySecurityGroup* actions (e.g., ModifySecurityGroupRules, ModifySecurityGroupAttributes, AuthorizeSecurityGroupIngress, RevokeSecurityGroupIngress) on any security group. Effectively prevents any modification to the default security group. Correct.
Related concept
Service Control Policy (SCP)
- ✗
{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:ModifySecurityGroupRules","Resource":"arn:aws:ec2:*:*:security-group/*","Condition":{"StringEquals":{"ec2:Vpc":"arn:aws:ec2:*:*:vpc/*"}}}]}
Why it's wrong here
Denies only ec2:ModifySecurityGroupRules, and uses a condition that targets all VPCs (wildcard), not specifically the default security group. Also misses other modify actions. Incorrect.
- ✗
{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:CreateSecurityGroup","Resource":"*"}]}
Why it's wrong here
Denies only ec2:CreateSecurityGroup, which does not prevent modification of existing security groups. Fails to meet requirement.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap is thinking that a condition key targeting 'default VPC' will restrict the deny to the default security group. In reality, the default security group is not uniquely identified by the VPC ARN alone; a more precise condition like ec2:SecurityGroupName is needed. Option B, while broad, is the only option that prevents modification of the default security group.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The default security group in each VPC is created automatically and cannot be deleted, but its rules can be modified. The SCP in option C uses the `ec2:Vpc` condition key with a wildcard pattern `arn:aws:ec2:*:*:vpc/*` to match any VPC, but the resource ARN `arn:aws:ec2:*:*:security-group/*` combined with the condition effectively targets security groups in any VPC. However, to precisely target only the default security group, the condition should ideally check for the group name or ID, but AWS does not provide a condition key for the security group name; the given SCP is the closest available approach in exam contexts, as it denies modifications to security groups in any VPC, which includes the default security group (since it resides in a VPC). In practice, you would need to use a more specific condition like `ec2:ResourceTag/default` or rely on the fact that the default security group is the only one without a custom name, but the exam accepts this as correct because it denies the action on any security group that is associated with a VPC, effectively covering the default security group.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Service Control Policy (SCP)
- Condition key
- Default security group
- Deny action
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
Service Control Policy (SCP)
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A healthcare organisation deploys an application with a public-facing web tier and a private database tier. The database subnet has no public IP and only accepts connections from the web tier's security group. Questions like this test whether you can design cloud network isolation using VNets/VPCs, subnets, and security group rules.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review service Control Policy (SCP), 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 — Service Control Policy (SCP).
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: {"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Deny","Action":"ec2:ModifySecurityGroup*","Resource":"*"}]} — The correct answer is Option B, which denies all ec2:ModifySecurityGroup* actions on any security group. This ensures that no account can modify the default security group, as required. Option C is incorrect because it only denies the ec2:ModifySecurityGroupRules action and uses a condition that applies to all VPCs, not specifically the default security group. Option A only prevents deletion, not modification. Option D prevents creation but not modification.
What should I do if I get this SAP-C02 question wrong?
Review service Control Policy (SCP), then practise related SAP-C02 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Service Control Policy (SCP)
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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