SCS-C02 Identity and Access Management Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of identity and access management. 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.
A company uses AWS Organizations with multiple accounts. The security team wants to enforce that all IAM users in member accounts must have a password policy that requires a minimum length of 14 characters. How can this be achieved centrally?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "minimum / minimize"
Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use an SCP that denies the UpdateAccountPasswordPolicy action unless the policy has MinimumPasswordLength >= 14.
Option C is correct because a service control policy (SCP) can deny changes to the password policy that don't meet the requirement. Option A is wrong because SCPs cannot set password policies; they can only deny actions. Option B is wrong because AWS Config can detect non-compliance but cannot enforce. Option D is wrong because IAM is a global service and cannot be restricted to a specific Region.
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.
✗
Use a service control policy (SCP) to enforce the password policy across all accounts.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs cannot set password policies; they can only deny actions that would create non-compliant policies.
✗
Use IAM permission boundaries to restrict password policy changes to specific Regions.
Why it's wrong here
Permission boundaries apply to users/roles, not to account-level password policies.
✗
Use AWS Config rules to automatically remediate non-compliant password policies.
Why it's wrong here
AWS Config can detect but cannot enforce; remediation may not be automatic.
✓
Use an SCP that denies the UpdateAccountPasswordPolicy action unless the policy has MinimumPasswordLength >= 14.
Why this is correct
SCPs can deny API calls that don't meet conditions.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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 SCS-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use an SCP that denies the UpdateAccountPasswordPolicy action unless the policy has MinimumPasswordLength >= 14. — Option C is correct because a service control policy (SCP) can deny changes to the password policy that don't meet the requirement. Option A is wrong because SCPs cannot set password policies; they can only deny actions. Option B is wrong because AWS Config can detect non-compliance but cannot enforce. Option D is wrong because IAM is a global service and cannot be restricted to a specific Region.
What should I do if I get this SCS-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 SCS-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Question Discussion
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