SCS-C02 Identity and Access Management Practice Question
A developer wants to allow an IAM role to be assumed by an EC2 instance that is part of an Auto Scaling group. Which TWO AWS services or features are required? (Choose TWO.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse IAM roles with instance profiles, thinking a role can be directly attached to an EC2 instance, but the instance profile is the required intermediary container that enables the role to be assumed by the instance.
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
✓
Instance profile
An instance profile is required to attach an IAM role to an EC2 instance. When an EC2 instance is launched with an instance profile, the AWS credentials provider on the instance can retrieve temporary security credentials from the IAM role via the instance metadata service (IMDS). This allows the instance to assume the role and perform authorized API actions without embedding long-term credentials.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
AWS Config
Why it's wrong here
AWS Config is for configuration monitoring, not for granting permissions.
- ✓
Instance profile
Why this is correct
The instance profile is the container for the role that can be attached to EC2 instances.
- ✓
IAM role
Why this is correct
The role defines the permissions that the EC2 instance will have.
- ✗
AWS CloudFormation
Why it's wrong here
CloudFormation can automate the creation of these resources but is not required.
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AWS Single Sign-On (SSO)
Why it's wrong here
SSO is for federated user access, not for EC2 instance roles.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.