This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of identity and access management. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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 runs the IAM policy simulator with a custom policy. The output shows the above. Which statement is true about the policy?
The policy allows iam:DeleteUser but denies iam:CreateUser.
Why wrong: CreateUser is allowed, DeleteUser is denied.
The policy allows all actions by default.
Why wrong: Deny exists.
The policy contains a statement that explicitly denies iam:DeleteUser.
Simulator shows explicitDeny.
The policy has no effect because the simulator returned errors.
Why wrong: No errors shown.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
The policy contains a statement that explicitly denies iam:DeleteUser.
The simulator indicates 'explicitDeny' for DeleteUser, meaning a deny statement exists. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because there is a deny. Option C is wrong because CreateUser is allowed. Option D is wrong because simulator shows explicit deny.
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
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
The policy allows iam:DeleteUser but denies iam:CreateUser.
Why it's wrong here
CreateUser is allowed, DeleteUser is denied.
The policy allows all actions by default.
Why it's wrong here
Deny exists.
The policy contains a statement that explicitly denies iam:DeleteUser.
Why this is correct
Simulator shows explicitDeny.
Related concept
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
The policy has no effect because the simulator returned errors.
Why it's wrong here
No errors shown.
Common exam traps
ACLs are processed top to bottom. The first matching entry wins, and an implicit deny usually exists at the end.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
No errors shown.
Detailed technical explanation
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.
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
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 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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FAQ
Identity and Access Management — This question tests Identity and Access Management — Standard ACLs match source addresses..
The correct answer is: The policy contains a statement that explicitly denies iam:DeleteUser. — The simulator indicates 'explicitDeny' for DeleteUser, meaning a deny statement exists. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because there is a deny. Option C is wrong because CreateUser is allowed. Option D is wrong because simulator shows explicit deny.
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.
Standard ACLs match source addresses.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
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