- A
Use an SCP to deny access to the AWS Management Console unless MFA is present. Attach the SCP to the production OU.
Why wrong: SCPs can deny actions, but they cannot enforce MFA at the console login level; they cannot require MFA for the initial sign-in.
- B
Disable password-based access for all IAM users and require federation with an identity provider that enforces MFA.
Why wrong: Disabling password access prevents all console login; the requirement is for IAM users to use MFA, not to remove password access.
- C
Enable MFA on the root user and apply a password policy that requires MFA.
Why wrong: Root MFA does not enforce MFA for other users; password policy does not require MFA for sign-in.
- D
Create an IAM policy that denies all console actions unless MFA is present. Attach the policy to the IAM group that contains all production users.
This policy ensures that after login, without MFA, users cannot perform any console actions; combined with requiring MFA for sensitive actions, it effectively enforces MFA for console access.
SCS-C02 Identity and Access Management Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of identity and access management. 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 accounts. The security team wants to ensure that all IAM users in the production account must use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to access the AWS Management Console. Which combination of actions should the security team take to enforce this requirement?
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 that denies all console actions unless MFA is present. Attach the policy to the IAM group that contains all production users.
Option D is correct because an IAM policy with a condition that denies all console actions unless MFA is present can be attached to an IAM group containing all production users. This enforces MFA at the user level within the account, directly meeting the requirement to ensure all IAM users in the production account must use MFA to access the AWS Management Console.
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 an SCP to deny access to the AWS Management Console unless MFA is present. Attach the SCP to the production OU.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs can deny actions, but they cannot enforce MFA at the console login level; they cannot require MFA for the initial sign-in.
- ✗
Disable password-based access for all IAM users and require federation with an identity provider that enforces MFA.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling password access prevents all console login; the requirement is for IAM users to use MFA, not to remove password access.
- ✗
Enable MFA on the root user and apply a password policy that requires MFA.
Why it's wrong here
Root MFA does not enforce MFA for other users; password policy does not require MFA for sign-in.
- ✓
Create an IAM policy that denies all console actions unless MFA is present. Attach the policy to the IAM group that contains all production users.
Why this is correct
This policy ensures that after login, without MFA, users cannot perform any console actions; combined with requiring MFA for sensitive actions, it effectively enforces MFA for console access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse SCPs with IAM policies, thinking SCPs can enforce MFA for console access within an account, but SCPs apply at the organizational level and cannot target specific IAM users or groups within an account.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The IAM policy in Option D uses a condition key like `aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent` with a value of `false` to deny all console actions when MFA is not present. This policy must be attached to the IAM group that contains all production users, ensuring that any user without MFA is denied access to the AWS Management Console. Under the hood, AWS evaluates this condition at the time of the API call, and if MFA is not present, the request is denied, effectively enforcing MFA for console access.
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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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create an IAM policy that denies all console actions unless MFA is present. Attach the policy to the IAM group that contains all production users. — Option D is correct because an IAM policy with a condition that denies all console actions unless MFA is present can be attached to an IAM group containing all production users. This enforces MFA at the user level within the account, directly meeting the requirement to ensure all IAM users in the production account must use MFA to access the AWS Management Console.
What should I do if I get this SCS-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: Jun 11, 2026
This SCS-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 SCS-C02 exam.
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