- A
The policy is attached to an IAM group, but the user is not a member of that group
Why wrong: If the user is not in the group, the policy does not apply at all.
- B
The 'aws:SourceIp' condition key is not supported for S3 actions
Why wrong: 'aws:SourceIp' is supported for S3 actions.
- C
The policy is attached to an IAM role that is used by an AWS service, and the condition does not apply to service principals
If the role is assumed by a service, the source IP may not be the end user's IP.
- D
The condition key is misspelled, causing the condition to be ignored
A misspelled condition key may be ignored by AWS, resulting in no restriction.
- E
The bucket policy allows public access, overriding the IAM policy
A public bucket policy would allow access regardless of IAM policy conditions.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the `aws:SourceIp` condition key fails when an IAM role is used by an AWS service because the condition is evaluated against the service principal, not the end user’s IP address. When an AWS service like Lambda or EC2 assumes a role to make requests, the source IP becomes the service’s internal network address, which is not subject to the `aws:SourceIp` check. This is a critical concept tested on the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, often appearing in scenario-based questions where a bucket policy or IAM policy with an IP restriction is unexpectedly bypassed. A common trap is assuming `aws:SourceIp` works universally, but it only applies to requests made by a user’s original client IP, not to service-invoked actions. Remember the mnemonic: “Service assumes, IP assumes nothing”—when a service assumes a role, the source IP condition is effectively ignored.
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 security engineer is reviewing an IAM policy that allows access to an S3 bucket. The policy includes a condition that checks 'aws:SourceIp'. However, users report they can still access the bucket from IP addresses not in the allowed list. Which THREE possible reasons could explain this behavior?
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
The policy is attached to an IAM role that is used by an AWS service, and the condition does not apply to service principals
Option C is correct because when an IAM role is assumed by an AWS service (e.g., AWS Lambda, EC2), the `aws:SourceIp` condition key does not apply to requests made by the service principal. The source IP address in such cases is the service's internal IP, not the end user's IP, and the condition is evaluated against the service's principal context, which does not include a source IP. This means the condition is effectively ignored for service-invoked actions, allowing access from any IP.
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.
- ✗
The policy is attached to an IAM group, but the user is not a member of that group
Why it's wrong here
If the user is not in the group, the policy does not apply at all.
- ✗
The 'aws:SourceIp' condition key is not supported for S3 actions
Why it's wrong here
'aws:SourceIp' is supported for S3 actions.
- ✓
The policy is attached to an IAM role that is used by an AWS service, and the condition does not apply to service principals
Why this is correct
If the role is assumed by a service, the source IP may not be the end user's IP.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
The condition key is misspelled, causing the condition to be ignored
Why this is correct
A misspelled condition key may be ignored by AWS, resulting in no restriction.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✓
The bucket policy allows public access, overriding the IAM policy
Why this is correct
A public bucket policy would allow access regardless of IAM policy conditions.
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 assume `aws:SourceIp` always applies to all requests, but they overlook that when an AWS service assumes a role, the condition is evaluated against the service's principal context, not the original client's IP, causing the condition to be ignored.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The `aws:SourceIp` condition key relies on the source IP address of the principal making the request. When an AWS service assumes a role, the request is made by the service principal (e.g., `lambda.amazonaws.com`), and the source IP is the service's internal network address, which is not the same as the end user's IP. AWS IAM evaluates conditions in the context of the principal; for service principals, the `aws:SourceIp` key is not present, so the condition is not satisfied and the policy defaults to allowing the action if the effect is Allow. This is a common misconfiguration when engineers assume service-invoked requests carry the original client IP.
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 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 exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
- →
Identity and Access Management — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Identity and Access Management practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All SCS-C02 questions
1,738 questions across all exam domains
- →
AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
SCS-C02 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related SCS-C02 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Threat Detection and Incident Response practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Threat Detection and Incident Response.
Security Logging and Monitoring practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Security Logging and Monitoring.
Identity and Access Management practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Identity and Access Management.
Management and Security Governance practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Management and Security Governance.
Infrastructure Security practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Infrastructure Security.
Data Protection practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to Data Protection.
SCS-C02 fundamentals practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to SCS-C02 fundamentals.
SCS-C02 scenario practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to SCS-C02 scenario.
SCS-C02 troubleshooting practice questions
Practise SCS-C02 questions linked to SCS-C02 troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Start a free SCS-C02 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
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: The policy is attached to an IAM role that is used by an AWS service, and the condition does not apply to service principals — Option C is correct because when an IAM role is assumed by an AWS service (e.g., AWS Lambda, EC2), the `aws:SourceIp` condition key does not apply to requests made by the service principal. The source IP address in such cases is the service's internal IP, not the end user's IP, and the condition is evaluated against the service's principal context, which does not include a source IP. This means the condition is effectively ignored for service-invoked actions, allowing access from any IP.
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.
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 →
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.