- A
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Principal": { "AWS": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:root" }, "Action": "sts:AssumeRole", "Condition": { "Bool": { "aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent": "true" } } } ] }
Allows the external account root with MFA requirement, secure and standard.
- B
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Principal": { "AWS": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:root" }, "Action": "sts:AssumeRole" } ] }
Why wrong: Allows only the root user of the external account, not ideal for auditor.
- C
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Principal": { "AWS": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:user/Auditor" }, "Action": "sts:AssumeRole" } ] }
Why wrong: Assumes a specific user that may not exist; better to allow the account.
- D
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Deny", "Principal": { "AWS": "123456789012" }, "Action": "sts:AssumeRole" } ] }
Why wrong: Denies access.
Quick Answer
The correct trust policy is the one that specifies the external auditor’s account root ARN as the principal, allows the `sts:AssumeRole` action, and includes the `aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent` condition set to `true`. This configuration is correct because it grants cross-account role trust policy with MFA enforcement, ensuring that the auditor must authenticate with a multi-factor device before assuming the read-only role, which directly mitigates the risk of credential theft or misuse. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to securely delegate access across accounts using trust policies, and a common trap is omitting the condition or using an IAM user ARN instead of the account root ARN—remember that cross-account trust must always target the root principal of the external account. A useful memory tip: “Root for the root, then MFA the assume” — always use the account root ARN for the principal, and always add the MFA condition to enforce strong authentication.
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 wants to allow an external auditor to assume a read-only role in their AWS account. The auditor's AWS account ID is 123456789012. Which trust policy should be attached to the role?
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": "Allow", "Principal": { "AWS": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:root" }, "Action": "sts:AssumeRole", "Condition": { "Bool": { "aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent": "true" } } } ] }
Option A is correct because it grants the external auditor's AWS account (via its root principal ARN) permission to assume the read-only role, while enforcing multi-factor authentication (MFA) as a security best practice. The `sts:AssumeRole` action is the standard mechanism for cross-account role assumption, and the `aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent` condition ensures the auditor uses MFA, reducing the risk of compromised credentials.
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.
- ✓
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Principal": { "AWS": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:root" }, "Action": "sts:AssumeRole", "Condition": { "Bool": { "aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent": "true" } } } ] }
Why this is correct
Allows the external account root with MFA requirement, secure and standard.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Principal": { "AWS": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:root" }, "Action": "sts:AssumeRole" } ] }
Why it's wrong here
Allows only the root user of the external account, not ideal for auditor.
- ✗
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Principal": { "AWS": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:user/Auditor" }, "Action": "sts:AssumeRole" } ] }
Why it's wrong here
Assumes a specific user that may not exist; better to allow the account.
- ✗
{ "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Deny", "Principal": { "AWS": "123456789012" }, "Action": "sts:AssumeRole" } ] }
Why it's wrong here
Denies access.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often overlook the MFA condition or incorrectly specify a specific user ARN, failing to recognize that the root principal ARN is the correct way to grant access to an entire external account while maintaining flexibility and security.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The trust policy uses the `Principal` element with the external account's root ARN (`arn:aws:iam::123456789012:root`) to allow any IAM entity in that account to assume the role, provided they meet the condition. The `aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent` condition key checks the `bool` context key, which is set to `true` only if the user authenticated with MFA during the STS `AssumeRole` call; this is a common pattern for cross-account access in compliance frameworks like SOC 2 or PCI DSS.
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: { "Version": "2012-10-17", "Statement": [ { "Effect": "Allow", "Principal": { "AWS": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:root" }, "Action": "sts:AssumeRole", "Condition": { "Bool": { "aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent": "true" } } } ] } — Option A is correct because it grants the external auditor's AWS account (via its root principal ARN) permission to assume the read-only role, while enforcing multi-factor authentication (MFA) as a security best practice. The `sts:AssumeRole` action is the standard mechanism for cross-account role assumption, and the `aws:MultiFactorAuthPresent` condition ensures the auditor uses MFA, reducing the risk of compromised credentials.
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 24, 2026
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