- A
The SCP condition key 'aws:SourceIp' is not supported for SCPs; SCPs only support conditions that are resource-based.
Why wrong: SCPs support conditions, but 'aws:SourceIp' is not supported in SCPs.
- B
The SCP only applies to IAM users and groups, not to the root user.
Why wrong: SCPs apply to all principals in the account, including the root user.
- C
The SCP condition key 'aws:SourceIp' is not available for use in SCPs; SCPs only support condition keys that are global and listed in the AWS Global Condition Context Keys documentation for SCPs.
The 'aws:SourceIp' condition key is not supported in SCPs, so the condition is ignored, and the deny does not apply.
- D
The SCP is evaluated after IAM policies, so an IAM policy allowing the action overrides the SCP.
Why wrong: SCPs are evaluated before IAM policies and cannot be overridden by an allow IAM policy.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the SCP condition key 'aws:SourceIp' is not supported for use in Service Control Policies, which is why the deny effect for s3:PutObject is being ignored. SCPs only support global condition keys explicitly listed in the AWS Global Condition Context Keys documentation, and aws:SourceIp is a request-based condition key available only in IAM policies and resource-based policies, not in SCPs. This question tests your understanding of the limitations of SCP condition keys on the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, where a common trap is assuming all IAM condition keys work in SCPs. Remember that SCPs operate at the organizational level and cannot evaluate network-based conditions like source IP; they are designed for permission boundaries, not granular network controls. A helpful memory tip is "SCPs are for what, not where"—they control which services and actions are allowed, not the network origin of the request.
SCS-C02 Management and Security Governance Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of management and security governance. 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 SCP that denies access to a specific AWS service. The engineer notices that the SCP has an Effect of 'Deny' for 's3:PutObject' but the condition block uses 'StringEquals' with 'aws:SourceIp' set to an IP range. Users in the account are still able to upload objects to S3 from IP addresses outside the range. What is the most likely reason?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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 SCP condition key 'aws:SourceIp' is not available for use in SCPs; SCPs only support condition keys that are global and listed in the AWS Global Condition Context Keys documentation for SCPs.
Option D is correct because SCPs do not support the aws:SourceIp condition key; they only support condition keys that are global in the context of the service control policy. Option A is wrong because SCPs are not limited to IAM users and groups; they apply to all principals in the account. Option B is wrong because SCPs support conditions, but not all condition keys are available. Option C is wrong because SCPs are evaluated before IAM policies and can deny actions.
Key principle: ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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 SCP condition key 'aws:SourceIp' is not supported for SCPs; SCPs only support conditions that are resource-based.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs support conditions, but 'aws:SourceIp' is not supported in SCPs.
- ✗
The SCP only applies to IAM users and groups, not to the root user.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs apply to all principals in the account, including the root user.
- ✓
The SCP condition key 'aws:SourceIp' is not available for use in SCPs; SCPs only support condition keys that are global and listed in the AWS Global Condition Context Keys documentation for SCPs.
Why this is correct
The 'aws:SourceIp' condition key is not supported in SCPs, so the condition is ignored, and the deny does not apply.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- ✗
The SCP is evaluated after IAM policies, so an IAM policy allowing the action overrides the SCP.
Why it's wrong here
SCPs are evaluated before IAM policies and cannot be overridden by an allow IAM policy.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: ACLs stop at the first match
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ACL questions test precision: source, destination, protocol, port and direction. A generally correct ACL can still fail if it is applied on the wrong interface or in the wrong direction.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Standard ACLs match source addresses.
- Extended ACLs can match source, destination, protocol and ports.
- The first matching ACL entry is used.
- There is usually an implicit deny at the end.
TExam Day Tips
- Check inbound versus outbound direction.
- Read the ACL from top to bottom.
- Look for a broader permit or deny above the intended line.
Key takeaway
ACLs process entries top to bottom and stop at the first match. Entry order and interface direction matter as much as the permit or deny statement.
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.
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SCS-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
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Management and Security Governance — study guide chapter
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Management and Security Governance practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SCS-C02 question test?
Management and Security Governance — This question tests Management and Security Governance — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The SCP condition key 'aws:SourceIp' is not available for use in SCPs; SCPs only support condition keys that are global and listed in the AWS Global Condition Context Keys documentation for SCPs. — Option D is correct because SCPs do not support the aws:SourceIp condition key; they only support condition keys that are global in the context of the service control policy. Option A is wrong because SCPs are not limited to IAM users and groups; they apply to all principals in the account. Option B is wrong because SCPs support conditions, but not all condition keys are available. Option C is wrong because SCPs are evaluated before IAM policies and can deny actions.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review ACL processing order, placement rules (standard near destination, extended near source), and inbound vs outbound direction. Study wildcard masks and implicit deny. Then practise related SCS-C02 ACL questions on filtering logic and placement.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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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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