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 notices that an IAM user has been performing suspicious actions in an AWS account. The engineer needs to generate a credential report to identify the age of the user's access keys. Which AWS CLI command should the engineer run?
aws iam get-account-authorization-details
Why wrong: This returns IAM entities, not credential age.
aws iam generate-credential-report && aws iam get-credential-report
The credential report includes access key ages.
aws iam generate-service-last-accessed-details
Why wrong: This is for service last accessed, not key age.
aws iam list-access-keys --user-name suspectUser
Why wrong: This only lists access keys, not their age.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
aws iam generate-credential-report && aws iam get-credential-report
Option C is correct because generate-credential-report creates the report, and get-credential-report retrieves it. Option A is wrong because list-access-keys only lists keys without age. Option B is wrong because get-account-authorization-details is not for credential reports. Option D is wrong because generate-service-last-accessed-details is for services.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
aws iam get-account-authorization-details
Why it's wrong here
This returns IAM entities, not credential age.
aws iam generate-credential-report && aws iam get-credential-report
Why this is correct
The credential report includes access key ages.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
aws iam generate-service-last-accessed-details
Why it's wrong here
This is for service last accessed, not key age.
aws iam list-access-keys --user-name suspectUser
Why it's wrong here
This only lists access keys, not their age.
Common exam traps
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Real-world example
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
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SCS-C02 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Management and Security Governance — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Management and Security Governance — This question tests Management and Security Governance — Authentication checks who the user is..
The correct answer is: aws iam generate-credential-report && aws iam get-credential-report — Option C is correct because generate-credential-report creates the report, and get-credential-report retrieves it. Option A is wrong because list-access-keys only lists keys without age. Option B is wrong because get-account-authorization-details is not for credential reports. Option D is wrong because generate-service-last-accessed-details is for services.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related SCS-C02 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Authentication checks who the user is.
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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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