The answer is to use an AWS Config rule to check AMI compliance and a service control policy (SCP) to deny noncompliant launches. This combination works because the Config rule evaluates each EC2 instance against a list of approved AMIs, marking noncompliant resources, while the SCP operates at the organization level to proactively block any launch that does not match the approved AMI ID, preventing the action before it completes. On the AWS Certified Security Specialty SCS-C02 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how detective controls (Config) and preventive controls (SCP) must work together for enforcement, as SCPs alone cannot evaluate AMI IDs and Config alone cannot deny actions. A common trap is choosing IAM policies, but IAM cannot restrict based on AMI ID directly, or Service Catalog, which only enforces through pre-approved products. Memory tip: think "Config checks, SCP blocks" — the detective rule flags it, the preventive policy stops it.
SCS-C02 Management and Security Governance Practice Question
This SCS-C02 practice question tests your understanding of management and security governance. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 team needs to enforce that all EC2 instances launched in a specific AWS account use only approved AMIs. Which combination of services can enforce this requirement?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Use an AWS Config rule to check AMI compliance and a service control policy (SCP) to deny noncompliant launches
AWS Config rules can evaluate launched instances, and SCPs can deny noncompliant launches. Option A is correct. Option B (Service Catalog) requires products, not enforced for direct EC2 run. Option C (CloudTrail) only logs. Option D (IAM) cannot restrict based on AMI ID directly.
Key principle: NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Use IAM policies to restrict ec2:RunInstances to only approved AMIs
Why it's wrong here
IAM policies cannot filter by AMI ID directly.
✗
Use AWS Service Catalog with a product that launches approved AMIs
Why it's wrong here
Service Catalog does not prevent direct EC2 launches.
✓
Use an AWS Config rule to check AMI compliance and a service control policy (SCP) to deny noncompliant launches
Why this is correct
Config evaluates, SCP denies the action.
Related concept
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
✗
Use AWS CloudTrail to log all EC2 launches and alert on noncompliant AMIs
Why it's wrong here
Logging does not prevent launches.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: NAT rules depend on direction and matching traffic
NAT is not only about the public address. The inside/outside interface roles and the ACL or rule that matches traffic are just as important.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
NAT questions usually test address translation, overload/PAT behaviour, static mappings and whether the right traffic is being translated. Read the interface direction and address terms carefully.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
PAT allows many inside hosts to share one public address using ports.
Inside local and inside global describe the private and translated addresses.
NAT ACLs identify traffic for translation, not always security filtering.
TExam Day Tips
→Identify inside and outside interfaces first.
→Check whether the scenario needs static NAT, dynamic NAT or PAT.
→Do not confuse NAT matching ACLs with normal packet-filtering intent.
Key takeaway
NAT direction and interface roles matter as much as the IP address mapping. Inside/outside designation controls which traffic is translated.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SCS-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
Management and Security Governance — This question tests Management and Security Governance — Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use an AWS Config rule to check AMI compliance and a service control policy (SCP) to deny noncompliant launches — AWS Config rules can evaluate launched instances, and SCPs can deny noncompliant launches. Option A is correct. Option B (Service Catalog) requires products, not enforced for direct EC2 run. Option C (CloudTrail) only logs. Option D (IAM) cannot restrict based on AMI ID directly.
What should I do if I get this SCS-C02 question wrong?
Review the four NAT address types (inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global), PAT port overload, and static vs dynamic NAT use cases. Then practise related SCS-C02 NAT questions on configuration and troubleshooting.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Static NAT maps one inside address to one outside address.
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 →
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.
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.