- A
In the source account, create an S3 bucket policy that allows access from the target account.
Why wrong: S3 bucket policy is for resource-based access, not for assuming roles.
- B
In the target account, create an IAM role with a trust policy that allows the source account, and attach a permissions policy to that role. In the source account, allow users to call sts:AssumeRole.
This is the standard cross-account access pattern.
- C
In the target account, create an IAM user and share the access keys securely with the source account users.
Why wrong: Sharing access keys is not a best practice and does not use roles.
- D
In the target account, attach a trust policy to an IAM group that allows the source account.
Why wrong: Trust policies are attached to roles, not groups.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to create an IAM role in the target account with a trust policy that designates the source account as a trusted principal, and then attach a permissions policy to that role defining the allowed actions, while in the source account, users must be granted permissions to call the sts:AssumeRole API. This works because cross-account access relies on a trust relationship established by the target account’s role policy, which explicitly authorizes the source account’s identity to assume the role, and the source account’s IAM policy then enables its users to initiate the assumption. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this concept tests your understanding of IAM delegation versus resource-based policies—a common trap is confusing a trust policy (placed on the role) with a resource-based policy (used for services like S3). Remember the key distinction: the trust policy is the “who can come in” door, and the permissions policy is the “what they can do” room. A useful mnemonic is “Trust the source, permit the actions.”
SCS-C02 Identity and Access Management Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of identity and access management. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 its users to assume an IAM role in a different AWS account. What must the company configure to enable cross-account access?
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
In the target account, create an IAM role with a trust policy that allows the source account, and attach a permissions policy to that role. In the source account, allow users to call sts:AssumeRole.
Option A is correct because cross-account access requires a trust policy in the target account's role that allows the source account to assume it, and a permissions policy that grants the necessary actions. Option B is wrong because resource-based policies are not used for role assumption. Option C is wrong because IAM users from the source account need a policy to call AssumeRole, but the trust policy is the key. Option D is wrong because the trust policy goes on the role, not the IAM group.
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.
- ✗
In the source account, create an S3 bucket policy that allows access from the target account.
Why it's wrong here
S3 bucket policy is for resource-based access, not for assuming roles.
- ✓
In the target account, create an IAM role with a trust policy that allows the source account, and attach a permissions policy to that role. In the source account, allow users to call sts:AssumeRole.
Why this is correct
This is the standard cross-account access pattern.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
In the target account, create an IAM user and share the access keys securely with the source account users.
Why it's wrong here
Sharing access keys is not a best practice and does not use roles.
- ✗
In the target account, attach a trust policy to an IAM group that allows the source account.
Why it's wrong here
Trust policies are attached to roles, not groups.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which SCS-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Identity and Access Management — study guide chapter
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Identity and Access Management practice questions
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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: In the target account, create an IAM role with a trust policy that allows the source account, and attach a permissions policy to that role. In the source account, allow users to call sts:AssumeRole. — Option A is correct because cross-account access requires a trust policy in the target account's role that allows the source account to assume it, and a permissions policy that grants the necessary actions. Option B is wrong because resource-based policies are not used for role assumption. Option C is wrong because IAM users from the source account need a policy to call AssumeRole, but the trust policy is the key. Option D is wrong because the trust policy goes on the role, not the IAM group.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Identify which SCS-C02 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on SCS-C02
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company wants to allow users from an external AWS account to assume a role in the company's account. What must be configured in the company's account?
easy- A.An IAM user in the company's account with cross-account access.
- B.A permissions policy that allows the external account to list roles.
- C.An IAM identity provider for the external account.
- ✓ D.A trust policy that allows the external account to assume the role.
Why D: The trust policy of the role must specify the external account as a principal. Option B is for permissions policy. Option C is for identity provider. Option D is for cross-account access via IAM user.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 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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